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42% of workers fear skills becoming obsolete due to AI – Totaljobs

Nearly half of workers said recent redundancies made them feel less secure in their jobs. 

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42% of workers fear skills becoming obsolete due to AI – Totaljobs
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Data from Totaljobs found 42% of UK workers are worried artificial intelligence (AI) and automation will make their skills obsolete. 

Nearly half of workers said recent redundancies made them feel less secure in their jobs. 

With UK vacancies at a five-year low, more workers are open to new roles, with 84% willing to consider new opportunities.

Data also showed that hiring confidence was strongest in IT, manufacturing and professional services, with more than half of employers in these sectors expecting hiring to increase over the next six months.

The fear of becoming obsolete (FOBO) is pushing workers to upskill. 

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Analysis showed that 72% are taking on extra responsibilities, 83% believe they need to keep learning new skills to stay employable, and 37% have learned how to use AI tools in the past year. 

86% said they would switch into a growth industry if needed. 

Most workers want more support, with 71% saying they would feel more secure if their employer invested in training and reskilling.

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Data found roles now take an average of 12 weeks to fill, up from 10 weeks last year. 

32% of employers said skills mismatch is their biggest hiring challenge, while 23% cannot meet candidate salary expectations. 

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Demand is strongest in AI and machine learning, technology and engineering, and data, analytics and cybersecurity.

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Despite economic uncertainty, 43% of organisations have increased recruitment, up from 36%, and only 5% expect to decrease hiring. 

The workforce is more open to change, with 84% willing to look for new jobs.

Julius Probst, European labour economist at Totaljobs, said: “What we’re seeing is not a simple contraction in the labour market, but a shift in where demand is focused. 

“Hiring is becoming more concentrated in specialist and future-facing roles, even as businesses continue to restructure and adapt to changing economic conditions.

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“At the same time, time-to-hire is increasing, salary expectations have risen, and skills fit has overtaken candidate supply as the defining hiring challenge.”

Probst added: “This is driving a move from job insecurity to ‘skills insecurity’, with individuals placing greater emphasis not just on job stability, but on their longer-term relevance in a rapidly evolving labour market.

“Encouragingly, both workers and employers are already responding. Individuals are investing in new skills, while workforce planning is becoming a greater priority for organisations.

“With the right focus on skills and development, this shift can become a catalyst for growth rather than a source of anxiety.”

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