A new study conducted by recruitment app JobSwipe reveals the UK’s older generation are at risk of losing out on job opportunities due to the AI skills gap. While more than half of HR professionals surveyed said they would be more likely to hire a candidate with skills, only 11% of 55-64 year olds have used AI to support their job search in the last year (compared to 48% of 18-24 year olds).
Rhys Maddocks, Founder and CEO of JobSwipe has called on the government to utilise Rishi Sunak’s upcoming AI Summit to promote AI education to bridge this divide.
As AI continues to reshape the job market, it is evident that being AI-savvy is increasingly crucial for job seekers to remain competitive and appealing to prospective employers.
Key findings from the study include:
Lack of Interest in AI Training: 57% of individuals over the age of 65 and 34% of those aged 55-64 expressed disinterest in undergoing training to harness the power of AI in the workplace. Meanwhile, 75% of 18 – 24-year-olds and 62% of 25–34-year-olds were somewhat or very interested in AI training.Importance of AI Skills: A majority of the surveyed population, comprising 54% of Britons, believe that possessing AI-related skills is crucial in today’s competitive job market.AI Usage in Job Searches: A significant 58% of HR professionals have witnessed an increase in candidates utilizing AI to discover job opportunities over the past year.Preference for AI-Savvy Candidates: An overwhelming 57% of HR professionals stated that they would be significantly or somewhat more inclined to hire a candidate who demonstrated experience with and knowledge of AI.Positive Outlook for AI: A remarkable 74% of HR professionals foresee AI having a positive impact on the job market in the future.AI Adoption in Recruitment: More than half of HR professionals, 56%, have already implemented or are planning to implement AI tools or platforms in the hiring process of their organizations.Generational Divide: Among respondents aged 55-64, only 11% reported having ever used AI to aid in their job searches, and none expressed a strong inclination to use generative AI for job applications in the future. In contrast, 48% of 18–24-year-olds and 34% of 25-34 year-olds have already used AI to assist them in finding job opportunities.
JobSwipe founder and CEO Rhys Maddocks says: “Our findings point to a looming crisis that skilled and experienced individuals will be overlooked as AI use rapidly expands. It is clear that young people are unafraid of embracing the benefits of AI in landing a job and performing better in the workplace. As the population ages and many older people working beyond retirement age, it is crucial that they learn to utilise AI. Otherwise, the job market is at risk of losing out on valuable older workers as the over 55s are left behind by their younger competitors.”
“Rishi Sunak’s upcoming AI summit intends to focus on AI safety – and though this is an important consideration, policymakers need to also turn their attentions to ensuring AI education for people of all ages. This is the only way the UK workforce can remain employable and avoid the obsolescence many fear AI will reduce them to. We can only be protected against the unemployment threat AI poses through education and adaptability. If we manage to keep up, we’re poised to benefit enormously.”
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