Contact Us At
A few years ago, knowing your way around a spreadsheet was enough to make you look tech-savvy at the office. That bar has risen, and AI skills in the workplace are the new must-have. New research from HR platform HiBob shows that 77% of UK organizations expect AI proficiency to become a baseline requirement for most non-technical roles within the next year.
Employees in every department are increasingly expected to understand how AI tools can support their everyday tasks. As a leader, this not only changes your approach to hiring, but also how you train and support your teams.
How the Demand for AI Skills Is Changing Hiring
The rise of workplace automation has significantly impacted what employers now look for. In addition to industry skills and experience, many companies now want employees who can work effectively alongside AI tools. In other words, can they use AI responsibly to solve real business problems?
This shift to AI-powered productivity means companies are rethinking their hiring and training strategies. HiBob reports that 80% of companies have strategies in place to find candidates who already have strong AI skills, while 82% are investing in AI upskilling.
This doesn’t mean everyone needs to be an AI specialist. Instead, the focus is shifting toward AI literacy, or understanding what AI can do and where it adds value. Most importantly, it also means understanding how to spot when an output looks incorrect and when to apply human judgment.
AI Tools Still Need Human Expertise Behind Them
As AI and workplace automation become more common, it’s reasonable to wonder whether human-centered skills (aka soft skills) remain valuable. In reality, many organizations are finding that they’re becoming as important as ever.
For example, although AI can quickly produce content or analyze data, critical thinking skills are still essential to ensure the company isn’t relying on inaccurate information. Workers still need to review AI-generated material to make informed decisions.
Communication, creativity, problem solving, and emotional intelligence play a big role in building relationships with customers. AI can assist with these skills but cannot replicate them.
Who Is Responsible for Upskilling?
Although companies recognize the need for stronger AI skills in the workplace, there’s still disagreement about who should take responsibility for developing those abilities.
Some organizations believe employees should independently learn how to use emerging tools, while others argue that employers need to provide structured training and resources. That ambiguity means there's no single playbook to follow. You can build one that fits your team instead of copying competitors.
That said, a hybrid approach to developing AI skills in the workplace is usually most effective. Businesses benefit when they create opportunities for continuous learning and upskilling, while employees benefit from taking an active role in expanding their capabilities.
Providing training opportunities can also help reduce uncertainty around AI adoption. When workers understand how tools fit into their roles, they are more likely to use them effectively. The companies that adapt successfully will likely be the ones that support AI skills in the workplace rather than just investing in technology.
