New global research suggests the UK is among the stronger adopters of artificial intelligence in the workplace, but the benefits are unevenly distributed. While many employees are already using AI tools as part of their roles, a sizeable proportion remain disengaged.
The research was conducted by Indeed Hiring Lab and draws on survey responses from more than 80,000 workers across eight countries: the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, Germany, France, Australia, Canada and Japan. It examines how people use AI at work, how much value they derive from it and how supported they feel by their employers.
In the UK, 41% of workers report using AI at work. This places the UK ahead of France at 39% and Japan at 18%, but behind Ireland at 70%, Australia at 48% and Germany at 46%. Across all countries, personal use of AI exceeds workplace use, suggesting many workers are experimenting independently rather than through employer-led initiatives.
The findings indicate that encouragement from employers plays a central role in adoption. In Ireland, where 37% of workers say their employer actively encourages AI use, uptake is highest. In contrast, Japan reports just 12% strong encouragement alongside the lowest workplace usage. The UK sits between these two positions, with moderate adoption and uneven levels of support.
Disengagement And Uneven Access To AI
Despite relatively strong headline adoption, more than a quarter of UK workers are classed as disengaged from AI. This group, representing 27% of respondents, neither uses AI tools at work nor believes they need training. The research suggests this disengagement is not evenly spread across the workforce.
Age is a significant factor. Half of UK workers aged 55 and over fall into the disengaged category, compared with 40% of those aged 18 to 24. Role type also matters. Manual and production roles show the highest disengagement at 62%, while professional services, technology and office-based roles report levels typically below 30%.
Disengaged workers are also less likely to feel that their workplace helps them thrive professionally or provides a strong sense of purpose. Internationally, disengagement ranges from 16% in Ireland to 40% in the United States, indicating that this is a widespread issue rather than one limited to the UK.
Training Gaps And Productivity Outcomes
The research highlights a paradox around AI skills and confidence. AI users are more likely than non-users to say they are undertrained, suggesting that hands-on experience reveals the limits of existing knowledge. In countries with lower levels of employer encouragement, such as Japan and France, more than half of AI users say they lack adequate training.
In the UK, the returns from AI use are mixed. One in five UK AI users say they save no time at all, the highest proportion among the countries surveyed. This contrasts with broader global findings, where between 81% and 96% of AI users report saving at least one hour per day. Ireland stands out, with around half of users saving three hours or more.
Where time savings do occur, UK workers are among the most likely to reinvest that time into work. Forty five per cent say they take on additional tasks or projects, while around a third focus on improving quality or efficiency. Others report benefits for learning, professional development and work-life balance.
Jack Kennedy, Senior Economist at Indeed, said, “UK workers are among the more active users of AI at work globally, and that is a strong position to be in as these tools become part of everyday jobs. The opportunity now is about momentum. Employer encouragement and ongoing training make a clear difference to how confidently and effectively people use AI.”
He added that without sustained investment in skills and support, a large segment of the workforce risks being left behind as AI adoption accelerates.