In its recent brief on AI and skills, the European Commission Joint Research Centre Europe notes that the EU needs faster, targeted training so workers and businesses can turn AI exposure into real benefits.
Who uses AI at work – and who does not
Workers in management, professional, technical and clerical roles face the highest exposure to AI. Most workers with a university‑level education fall into the most exposed groups.
Women are heavily represented just below the top exposure band, mainly in clerical and secretarial jobs.
Despite this, only about 30 % of EU enterprises with ten or more employees have adopted AI. Use is strongest in large, highly digital firms and in Northern EU countries.
AI use also differs sharply by occupation
- around 40% of white‑collar workers use AI at work
- but only 6% of workers in elementary jobs
Impact on jobs – Exposure does not equal replacement
Up to 2025, there is no clear link between AI exposure and unemployment, earnings or working hours in Europe. Whether AI changes or replaces a job depends on how much human skills still matter.
Jobs with high exposure and high need for human judgement, responsibility and interaction – such as doctors, veterinarians and professional‑services managers – are more likely to be enhanced by AI and need upskilling within the same occupation.
Jobs with high exposure but lower need for these human skills – such as general office clerks, keyboard operators and some finance roles – face greater risk of tasks being replaced and need reskilling into different occupations.
Education and training are not keeping up
AI understanding is now part of the European Digital Competence Framework (DigComp 3.0), which guides digital skills in education. However, only about one‑third of national school curricula include AI‑related competences.
Around 30% of teachers have taken part in AI‑focused training. Most teachers still lack the skills to use AI responsibly in the classroom.
Short, flexible learning options for adults – essential for mid‑career workers in highly exposed jobs – remain limited, even though demand for AI skills is clear.
Policy action to close the adoption gap
EU initiatives such as the Pact for Skills and the Artificial Intelligence Skills Alliance (ARISA) support large‑scale partnerships, micro‑credentials and sector‑specific pilot projects.
Finland’s National AI Upskilling Initiative shows what targeted support can achieve. It has delivered more than 2 000 practical AI training sessions to SMEs in sectors like automotive services, agriculture, logistics, tourism and cleaning. The aim is to reduce the gap in AI use between large firms and smaller businesses.
Europe’s challenge is to build on such efforts, expanding AI training and support for SMEs and mid‑career workers so more people and companies can make effective use of AI at work.
