Nearly 70% of UK workers will be affected by AI in some way, according to the AI in the UK Report reported by YourCoffeeBreak. Entry-level and clerical roles are most at risk, as employers automate or augment tasks to cut costs.
ONS data shows the Index of Labour Costs per Hour hit 231.1 in March 2025, adding pressure to replace manual processes. Job adverts for high-exposure roles have fallen 38% since 2022, particularly in bookkeeping, payroll, telesales and customer service — all earning below the median wage.
Yet “exposure” does not guarantee automation. The Department for Education stresses that outcomes depend on how employers deploy AI, with many tasks ripe for augmentation rather than elimination.
Training, however, is lagging. Randstad research found three-quarters of UK firms now use AI, but only a minority offer staff training. McKinsey’s UK analysis points to weak recruitment for AI-exposed roles since 2022 and uneven upskilling, risking a split between workers who master AI tools and those left behind.
PwC’s 2025 Global AI Jobs Barometer found AI skills already command wage premiums in many sectors. Without coordinated reskilling, it warns, benefits will concentrate among an already advantaged few.
Career experts advise workers to: • Develop AI-relevant technical skills, from generative AI to applied machine learning. • Strengthen soft skills such as strategic thinking, communication and adaptability. • Showcase AI experience in CVs and portfolios. • Seek side projects or training to build practical capability.
For employers and policymakers, the priority is to “turn adoption into inclusion” by expanding targeted training, apprenticeships and incentives for retraining over replacement.
Analysts say the UK could turn disruption into a competitive advantage by aligning rapid AI adoption with robust skills investment, regional support and clear standards for responsible deployment — avoiding a two-tier workforce in the process.
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