6 Facts about the State of AI Upskilling

Research Findings: The Current State of AI and Upskilling

The Common Challenge: AI Usage is High but Proficiency is Low 

Across industries, over half of employees use AI daily. However, survey data showed that most adoption outpaces training for this emerging and popular technology. This has created an AI skills gap in the workforce where usage is high but expertise is limited. 

Survey data also revealed that prioritization and adoption vary across sectors and job functions. We found that the most popular roles for AI upskilling programs are: 

1. Technical Individual Contributors
2. People Managers
3. Directors and Senior Directors 

Although organizations currently favor certain positions over others for training, it’s best to roll out upskilling holistically as generative AI use touches the whole company. Thankfully, upskilling programs holistically close the gap between the demand for AI knowledge and real-life skills across your organization.

Industry Pulse: A Look at Healthcare, Technology, and Manufacturing

Our research revealed differences among industries when it comes to AI proficiency, usage, and training rates but showed that organizations want similar outcomes from AI upskilling. These include: 

• Greater operational efficiency
• Better cross-functional communication 
• Higher employee retention

Keep reading for a closer look at AI trends in the healthcare, technology, and manufacturing industries.

Healthcare has to Build Data Literacy and Generative AI Skills

Survey results showed that healthcare not only has a skills gap when it comes to generative AI but also data literacy. As a result, it has to establish a data-literate workforce before generative AI proficiency can be established. The good news is that these skills can be developed simultaneously with strategic upskilling programs. 

Technology and Manufacturing Lead the Charge

On the opposite side of the spectrum is the technology industry. Eager to upskill employees in generative AI, 50% of tech survey respondents named it their highest priority. A similar trend was also observed by manufacturing respondents. 

The technology and manufacturing industries are usually ahead of the curve when it comes to tech adoption, so it’s not surprising that their workforces:

• Are data literate and ready to upskill in AI
• Value upskilling and prioritize it 

Key Insight: Human-led Learning Emerges as Primary Upskilling Approach

For AI-related upskilling programs, nearly half of organizations turn to human-led, live synchronous instruction instead of traditional, self-paced, asynchronous training. To execute this upskilling best practice, many organizations work with trusted partners like Correlation One to: 

• Deliver human-led training from a network of thousands of expert-level instructors 
• Create custom training programs rooted in your organizational context 

How to Get Started with AI Upskilling

To help organizations navigate the workforce development landscape, here are some practical steps to upskill your workforce in AI.

1. Assess the Internal Talent Pool 

First, identify your organization's current talent and skill set. Then, examine immediate challenges, skills gaps, and areas of opportunities. Armed with this information, people leaders can map the requirements for a tailored upskilling program that builds on existing workforce strengths and addresses skills gaps. 

2. Create a Custom Training Plan 

The most effective upskilling efforts are personalized to an employee’s role, business function, and organizational context. Without these elements baked into upskilling initiatives, the jump from theoretical knowledge to workplace application is unlikely. 

3. Apply AI Skills in Real-Life Settings

Stakeholders company-wide only recognize the impact of upskilling if employees apply their skills in real-life settings. Within your organization is the best place for employees to:

• Gain practical experience
• Build confidence using AI tools
• Demonstrate the ROI of upskilling 

This makes the practical application of skills a critical component of successful upskilling programs.

The Path Forward: Upskilling is a Necessity in 2024 and Beyond

AI upskilling is not just a buzzword. It's a critical focus for organizations that need to maximize workforce potential. By assessing internal talent, creating targeted training plans, and applying AI skills in real-world settings, companies can overcome AI adoption hurdles and experience its benefits. 

Ready to start your upskilling journey? Get your copy of the From AI Panic to an AI Plan: Upskilling for Your Organization whitepaper to kick your initiative off.