- New data reveals that most workers fear the potential impact of AI on their jobs
- Employees who feel secure in their roles are more productive and engaged.
- Employers must prioritize communication and invest in training and upskilling
New data from ADP’s People at Work 2026 report, covering more than 39,000 working adults across 36 markets, confirms that most workers are still very concerned about the impact of AI on their jobs, even though tangible impacts today are relatively minimal.
Only one in four UK workers strongly agree that their job is safe from replacement, and this figure falls to around one in five (21%) in Europe as a whole and 22% globally.
The ADP report highlights a significant disconnect between employment numbers, which are generally quite strong, and employees’ personal expectations about the future of their roles.
Poor AI communication is creating a trust gap
“The world of work is changing rapidly and our findings reveal a gap between what the labor market tells us and what employees feel,” said Jeff Phipps, senior vice president and general manager of ADP UK&NI, noting that “employment is strong.”
The report, one of the most extensive of its kind, shows that trust actually varies widely depending on the nature of an employee’s role, with knowledge workers feeling the most confident. Around one in three (34%) UK knowledge workers agree their jobs are secure, but only 19% of UK workers in repetitive roles feel secure.
But a sense of job security not only influences a worker’s satisfaction: it could also affect the way they work and the productivity perceived by an employer. Workers who feel their jobs are secure are 6 times more likely to be fully engaged at work and about 3 times more likely to report high productivity.
Workers who feel secure are also about twice as likely to say they have no intention of leaving their employer.
Greater job security creates higher performing workers
It appears that greater confidence in the future may allow employees to focus more on their work and increase their contributions, indicating a clear need for positive communication from management.
ADP advises employers to be transparent about any organizational and technological changes, and to explain how employees’ roles could be affected so they don’t instantly assume their jobs could be at risk. The report also places responsibility for training and upskilling on employers.
“People want to know that there is a place for them as their organization evolves and that they will be supported to get there,” Phipps added.
The report also reveals that the larger the company, the less trust the worker will have. Large corporations see a trust level of 22%, compared to 36% for medium-sized businesses. The opposite is true in Europe, showing that the world is still struggling to get to grips with AI communication and training, regardless of geography or company size.
“Companies that take this seriously – investing in skills and being honest about change – are the ones that see the reward in how people perform and whether they stay,” Phipps said, urging companies to consider much more than just implementing technology in their AI strategies as they risk losing workers.
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