Adecco global research: What works?

Adecco's Global Workforce of the Future survey, published in October, is in its fourth year and explores the changing world of work from the perspective of workers. This year's survey focuses on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) on work.

About the survey

The survey involved 30,000 workers from 23 countries worldwide, including Slovenia. The survey was conducted in July and August 2023 in local languages. The data is representative with a 95% confidence interval, with quotas set to ensure a representative national sample by age and gender in each country.

Key findings of the survey

We are in the honeymoon phase. In addition to initial excitement, organizations need a better plan for generative AI

– 62% of workers believe that the impact of artificial intelligence on their work will be positive. Positive impacts of AI include "learning skills/career advancement" (30%), followed by "easing work" (29%) and "creating more jobs in my industry" (19%). Only 8% of respondents think they will lose their job due to AI.

– 58% of workers believe that knowledge and skills in AI will improve their career prospects. Workers in technology (69%), financial services (67%), and e-commerce (63%) are most convinced that AI will enhance their career opportunities.

The use of GenAI is widespread, but adoption of tools is uneven, and workers need clear instructions

– 70% of workers currently use generative artificial intelligence at work. GenAI is used more by those in senior positions than by their younger colleagues.

– Only 46% of workers receive instructions from employers on how to use AI at work.

– Workers who do not currently use generative AI at work cite lack of trust as the number one barrier (35% say "I don’t trust it"). Meanwhile, 27% of respondents think GenAI is not relevant to their work, and 14% are unaware of what it is and how to use it.

As technology replaces many technical skills, soft skills will become increasingly important

– 61% of workers believe that the human approach at work still has a greater impact than AI. Only 54% of Generation Z agree with this.

– According to workers, the three most important human skills that are least likely to be replaced by AI are emotional intelligence, empathy/active listening, and interpersonal skills.

To retain talent, focus on career advancement – 73% of workers plan to stay with their employer in 2023, compared to 61% in 2022.

– This year, workers are more likely to seek internal career advancement, as evidenced by a 10% increase in the number of workers seeking internal promotions compared to 2022.

– Salary is a tool for attracting talent, but not for retaining employees. Salary is still the number one reason for leaving a job, but it ranks only ninth among the reasons to stay with an employer.

Knowledge is a valuable currency – 56% of workers believe that their knowledge and skills are transferable to other industries.

– Workers want more autonomy in upskilling, with two-thirds of workers (62%) stating that they intend to take more control over their own development in the future.

Promote well-being to reduce the risk of stress and burnout – 65% of workers have experienced some form of burnout.

– Workers in leadership positions are more likely to burn out due to taking on more responsibility after layoffs (45%) compared to 37% of non-leaders.

– 78% of workers say their employer does not encourage them to take full advantage of their annual leave.

What is the situation in Slovenia? Where are we above the average and where are we below it?

– Slovenia is on par with the global average regarding the use of generative artificial intelligence at work. According to the survey, 62% of respondents said they currently use generative AI in their work. Generative AI enables the creation of various content, including text, images, sound, and synthetic data.

– Survey results reveal that workers are less likely to leave their jobs compared to last year. However, this is not the case for Slovenia, where we fall below the global average. Compared to last year, 3% more people expressed a desire to change jobs in the next 12 months. This could have significant consequences for Slovenian employers.

– Regarding salaries, workers in Australia and Switzerland are the most satisfied, while those in Romania are the least satisfied with their pay. Slovenia ranks at the global average, with 62% of people believing they receive fair pay for their work.

– Most interestingly, Slovenia stands out in terms of burnout. Only just over half of the respondents (51%) reported feeling burnout in the last year, which is the lowest percentage compared to other countries. For example, Swiss workers reported a burnout rate of 76%.