New research from the global hiring platform Indeed suggests many businesses accept that AI will change how work is done, but a lot of them say they just do not have time to train people to use it.
Indeed announced that half of employers expect AI and automation to drive changes in workplace skills over the next 3-5 years. Another 52% expect at least a modest change in the capabilities employees need. The findings come from the Indeed Smarter Hiring report by Indeed, with YouGov.
The research, based on a survey of 6,837 jobseekers and 2,481 employers across 12 markets, also shows that time is the biggest barrier to learning AI skills. 1 in 3 jobseekers say time is the main problem stopping them from building new skills. Employers say the same thing. The survey found that 40% of employers also say lack of time is the biggest factor holding them back.
Businesses are already bringing AI into everyday work. According to Indeed, 1 in 6 UK companies now uses AI daily to deal with business problems. Workers who use it regularly say they gain time in return. Indeed’s data shows that 77% of UK workers who use AI say it saves them at least an hour per day, and many report saving 3 hours or more.
The result is a contradiction. Organisations want AI tools in daily operations, but workers struggle to find space during busy workdays to learn how to use them properly.
What Exactly Is Getting In The Way Of AI Upskilling?
Heavy workloads seem to be the biggest issue when it comes to this. As is, employees have full schedules, and learning how to use AI tools takes time to practise, test, and adjust everyday work processes.
Indeed’s research says learning AI rarely happens instantly. Workers need time to understand where AI helps their work and where it does not. That learning period can slow things down before productivity improves.
Matt Burney, Senior Strategic Advisor at Indeed, said businesses often underestimate how much time adoption actually requires:
“It is clear that employers want to move quickly on AI. However, there is often a gap between ambition and operating reality. Organisations are investing in new systems, yet they do not always allocate meaningful time for adoption or clearly define who is responsible for driving change.”
Burney added that organisations cannot expect employees to absorb AI training during already busy workdays.
“AI upskilling requires space. It is difficult to embed effectively when treated as an add-on to existing workloads. Structured collaboration and protected time are needed to rethink workflows. There is no quick fix. When implementation is layered onto already stretched teams, the impact is rarely acceleration. It is friction.”
Who Should Actually Be Responsible For Learning AI Skills?
Another issue is disagreement over who should take responsibility for training.
The Indeed survey shows that 56% of jobseekers believe learning new skills such as AI is their own responsibility. Employers see things differently. The same share of employers, 56%, believe senior leadership should lead AI development and training inside organisations.
This difference can leave workers uncertain about what they should be doing. Employees may feel pressure to learn new tools, but leadership teams control budgets, systems and training resources.
Indeed’s research also found that 48% of UK employers support learning through workplace training, mentorship or rotational programmes. Without ownership of training programmes, learning can become inconsistent across teams.
Burney said productivity gains depend on changing how work happens and redesigning workflows around AI.
“The real work lies in identifying where AI genuinely drives efficiency, how workflows should evolve, and where its limitations sit. Productivity gains come from redesigning work, not simply introducing tools.”
