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The AI advantage gap: Bosses benefit while workers miss out
New research from global employment platform, Employment Hero, has revealed the emergence of an‘ AI advantage gap’ across UK small businesses, with senior leaders far more likely to use and benefit from AI than junior staff.
The Work that Works report has uncovered a stark divide in how AI is being adopted at work – with bosses and older millennials seeing the benefits in their day-to-day productivity, while entry-level workers risk being left behind.
While nearly three-quarters( 73 %) of senior managers use AI monthly, this drops to just 32 % for entry-level employees. Despite popular claims that Gen Z are leading the AI charge, it’ s millennials who are actually the heaviest users.
This generational and professional divide is creating an uneven playing field, with AI tools largely concentrated at the top. Leaders are setting the pace, but many workers lack guidance or access to tools relevant to their roles.
As one respondent from the report highlighted:“ The installation of AI and making employees aware about how to use it is the biggest challenge for our business nowadays.” That came from a Head of People position in a business which has 50 – 99 employees.
While over half of UK business leaders credit AI for improving productivity, the report also finds that poor implementation is harming output. Employees who feel excluded from AI initiatives report a 50 % decline in their own productivity. Productivity is also halved if a business has no / low level introduction and adoption of AI.
Institute of Analytics launches skills portfolio to help SMEs hire data professionals with confidence
The Institute of Analytics( IoA) – one of the UK’ s leading global membership bodies for data analytics professionals – has launched a new tool to support SMEs looking to build data capability. The IoA Professional Portfolio helps employers assess and hire data professionals based on real-world evidence without needing technical expertise themselves. The IoA Professional Portfolio is a smarter, skillsbased alternative to a CV, designed to help small businesses hire data talent with confidence. It highlights verified projects, feedback and mapped capabilities in plain English, making the process clearer, faster and more reliable.
Hiring your first data analyst, AI lead or Digital Transformation consultant can be daunting, especially without a background in data or analytics. The IoA Portfolio removes the guesswork by showing what candidates can actually do, not just what they claim.
“ SMEs are crying out for digital skills, but they also need to make every hire count,” said Dr Clare Walsh, Director of Education at the IoA.“ Our Professional Portfolio gives business owners the confidence to bring in the right talent and build capability for the future.” �
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