Report finds demand for upskilling and reskilling amid AI's potential employment impact
New Zealand employers are failing to keep pace with employees' strong demand for training on artificial intelligence amid the technology's growing adoption in workplaces, according to a new report.
Dayforce's latest global study showed that 52% of companies do not offer AI training courses to employees.
This is despite 19% of employees believing that it is important to develop AI skills, and another 71% saying employers should reskill workers impacted by AI.
Rob Husband, Vice President ANZ at Dayforce, said AI is "mission-critical technology" that should sit at the heart of HR transformation.
"Ensuring motivated workers are given opportunities to learn, grow, and advance is one of the keys to employee satisfaction and retention," Husband said in a statement.
"With the right adoption of AI in place, organisations will be able to quantify their employees' skills and capabilities, document their goals and generate personalised career development plans. That's good for HR teams and even better for your workforce at large."
Rising workforce fears
The growing demand for AI training comes amid rising workforce fears of being replaced by the technology, according to the report.
In New Zealand, 23% of employees said their skills are becoming obsolete due to the increasing presence of AI at work.
Some 14% also said they have seen their roles change due to AI, with another 36% expecting more changes to happen soon.
Despite this impact, 61% of employees said their companies do not have a programme in place to reskill or transition their employees who are affected by AI.
Amy Cappellanti-Wolf, Chief People Officer at Dayforce, said HR leaders should infuse skills and pathways for people or risk being left behind.
"Employees are eager to grow, but without a clear strategy for training and career mobility, organisations risk creating a two-tier workforce — those driving innovation with AI and those struggling to keep pace," the chief people officer said in a statement.
