AI in jobs: Only one in five employees feels prepared

Only around one in five employees in Germany feels adequately prepared for AI in their daily work. This is according to a survey by the further education provider Skillsoft, the results of which for Germany are available to the iX editorial team. According to the survey, 80 percent of respondents in this country already use AI tools at work. However, only 21 percent consider themselves competent enough to use them effectively.

Management sees things quite differently: 73 percent of managers consider their workforce to be well prepared. This means there is a gap of 52 percentage points between external and self-assessment.

Little competence assessment, little governance

Skillsoft interprets this as a sign that many companies confuse the mere introduction of AI with actual readiness for use. According to the survey, many organizations lack the basic prerequisites to systematically prepare employees for the use of AI. For example, only 9 percent of respondents in Germany state that their employer formally assesses their skills; companies tend to rely on assessments by managers. Only 13 percent receive training before new AI tools are launched. A comprehensive AI governance is seen by only 6 percent, and 14 percent report that their company does not provide any AI guidelines at all.

The results also show considerable disorientation among the workforce. 74 percent of employees in Germany do not know exactly which skills will be important in the future. Only 20 percent say their job description accurately reflects their daily work. Furthermore, 38 percent report that guidelines for the use of AI vary depending on the team or manager – a company-wide standard is lacking.

Lack of time slows down further training

Respondents cite lack of time, not a lack of learning opportunities, as the biggest obstacle to building skills. In Germany, 62 percent say this. 19 percent are skeptical of or distrust AI tools. Skillsoft concludes from this that the problem lies less in the technology itself than in the way companies organize, prioritize, and manage further training.

The study also points to possible consequences for the job market. 21 percent of German respondents expect AI to displace traditional entry-level positions. At the same time, 35 percent expect problem-solving and collaboration to become more important, and 36 percent expect faster promotion opportunities. From the perspective of many respondents, further training primarily serves to keep up in their current role. This is stated by 39 percent of employees and 38 percent of managers in Germany.

The data comes from a survey conducted by the market research company Pollfish among 2000 full-time employees and managers in North America, Great Britain, and Germany in March and April 2026. The study should also be viewed against the backdrop that Skillsoft itself sells skills management platforms. Furthermore, the survey primarily measures self-perception and external perception – not the actual AI competence of employees.

(axk)