A new report published today by Skills England reveals that while AI is transforming jobs across the UK economy, many employers are struggling to keep pace with adoption and workforce upskilling.
The report, titled AI Skills for the UK Workforce, highlights sector-specific challenges and introduces three new tools to help businesses adopt AI responsibly and effectively. Developed by Dr Nisreen Ameen of Royal Holloway, University of London, in partnership with Skills England and funded by the British Academy’s Innovation Fellowships, the tools aim to bridge the AI skills gap and unlock the UK’s £400 billion AI opportunity by 2030.
The report outlines key barriers to AI adoption across a number of industries, including construction, creative industries, and advanced manufacturing.
A common issue across sectors is poor employer understanding of what AI skills are and how to develop them within their teams.
To address these challenges, the report introduces:
- AI Skills Framework – Identifies technical, responsible, and non-technical skills needed across job roles and levels
- AI Skills Adoption Pathway Model – Maps how organisations progress from awareness to strategic scaling of AI
- Employer AI Adoption Checklist – Helps businesses assess readiness, identify workforce gaps, and upskill for tools like ChatGPT and image generation platforms
These tools are designed to support SMEs and large organisations alike, ensuring AI adoption is inclusive, ethical, and effective.
Jaqcui Smith, Skills Minister, commented:
“AI has the power to transform our economy - but only if people have the right skills to utilise it effectively. This report makes clear that too many employers are still unsure how to begin their AI journey. That’s why, through Skills England, we’re working hand-in-hand with industry to equip the workforce with the tools they need for the future. By doing so, we’re not just preparing our economy for the jobs of tomorrow - we’re raising living standards and putting more money in people’s pockets as part of our Plan for Change.”
The report supports the government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan, which aims to upskill 7.5 million UK workers by 2030 through a new partnership with tech giants including Google, IBM, and Microsoft.
Training materials will be made freely available to businesses nationwide over the next five years, with Skills England and DSIT working together to deliver this ambitious goal.
Image credit: iStock
