AI in the UK Report: Nearly 70% of Workers Are at Risk of Being Affected by AI
As AI investment is increasing across the UK, the workforce is being split into two: those reaping the benefits of new technologies, and those left behind. A new report has been released combining UK and global data to show how AI is transforming the job market and redefining hiring expectations. The AI in the UK Report’s findings reveal a growing risk to entry-level and clerical roles, rising inequality in AI skills access, and slow progress in employer-led upskilling.
‘UK workers are at a turning point. Gaining confidence with AI tools and skills isn’t just useful, it’s becoming essential,’ says UK Career Expert Samuel Johns. ‘For entry-level workers and recent graduates especially, investing time in upskilling now could make all the difference in long-term career prospects.’
‘Clerical roles, once considered the bedrock of early careers, are now vanishing under the weight of automation,’ Johns commented. ‘Meanwhile, employers increasingly expect and give priority to job seekers who are already equipped with AI skills and knowledge.’
Companies Expect AI skills, but Lack Commitment to Upskilling Workers
According to a Randstad’s report, 75% of UK companies have adopted AI, yet only 35% of workers received any AI training in the last year. Though AI augmentation could boost productivity for workers, jobs are instead being automated and replaced, with 62% of employers admitting they don’t feel responsible for preventing redundancies, and 39% saying they’ve already replaced workers with AI systems.
How Workers Can Future-Proof Their Jobs
As AI reshapes the economy, workers must adapt to remain employable. Four strategies are recommended to future-proof a career:
1. Upskill with AI in mind, focusing on learning skills related to one’s career.
2. Workers should strengthen their digital and technical skills. Highly valued technical skills include:
- GenAI
- PyTorch
- Machine learning & applied machine learning
- Deep learning
- Supervised training (Forbes)
3. Emphasising soft skills is also important. Some in-demand soft skills include:
- Strategic thinking
- Communication
- Honesty and integrity
- Critical thinking
- Adaptability (Forbes)
Workers should also update their CVs to include AI skills. Even basic AI tools or side projects can help job seekers stand out in entry-level hiring.
Labour Costs Push Companies Towards AI
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) recorded a record high Labour Cost Index of 231.1 in March 2025, pushing many firms to automate administrative work. As a result, job postings for roles with high AI exposure have dropped 38% since 2022.
Clerical Roles Face the Highest Automation Threat
Sectors with the highest exposure to AI include:
- Clerical and administrative work
- Finance and law
- Business management roles
The Department for Education also identified a list of jobs with the highest risk of full automation. These jobs not only carry an average automation risk of 78%, but also pay £2,800 below the national median wage:
- Bookkeepers, payroll managers, and wage clerks
- Annual median wage: £25,889
- No. of jobs: 249,000
- AI automation risk: 94%
- Telephone salespersons
- Annual median wage: £25,975
- No. of jobs: 6000
- AI automation risk: 94%
- Pensions and insurance clerks and assistants
- Annual median wage: £26,226
- No. of jobs: 30,000
- AI automation risk: 87%
- Bank and post office clerks
- Annual median wage: £25,987
- No. of jobs: 82,000
- AI automation risk: 87%
- Brokers
- Annual median wage: £47,158
- No. of jobs: 17,000
- AI automation risk: 85%
- Customer service representatives
- Annual median wage: £23,356
- No. of jobs: 365,000
- AI automation risk: 76%
- Travel agents
- Annual median wage: £24,730
- No. of jobs: 20,000
- AI automation risk: 75%
- Finance officers
- Annual median wage: £26,411
- No. of jobs: 24,000
- AI automation risk: 70%
- Librarians
- Annual median wage: £29,931
- No. of jobs: 24,000
- AI automation risk: 68%
- Authors, writers, translators
- AI automation risk: 55%
- Annual median wage: £31,979
- No. of jobs: 17,000