HR workers today are being tasked with helping employees incorporate AI into their daily work, but these same professionals say there are massive training gaps when it comes to their own ability to use the new tech.ย ย
Only 30% of HR workers say theyโve received comprehensive, job-specific AI training, with 26% saying theyโve had none at all, according to a study of industry professionals from General Assembly, an upskilling and training platform. Another 12% say the training theyโve been given is too generic to be useful and another 18% say itโs been great for general knowledge but not for any kind of real application.ย
โAI is transforming every aspect of work, but to harness its full potential, we need to upskill every department, especially HR,โ said Daniele Grassi, CEO of General Assembly in a statement about the report. She notes that teams that receive training are 35% more likely to be confident in their skills than those who try to work on their skillset solo.ย
When it comes to what theyโre looking for when it comes to AI training, 70% of HR workers want workshops focused on specific HR use cases, and 63% want regular updates on these AI tools as they evolve. Theyโre also deeply skeptical about mandates. Only 6% say theyโre motivated to use AI because company leaders are forcing them to, and 41% say the decision has created more work and pulled them away from other strategic priorities.ย ย ย
So while HR leaders are keen on using the latest tech, and getting better at encouraging workers to adopt it, itโs clear that thereโs still a training gap that persists for these professionals. And employers should be warned that if itโs not done right, it could lead to other problems.
โHR teams are on the frontlines of talent development and employee upskilling, and they must understand emerging workplace technologies,โ says Grassi.
Written by Brit Morse for Fortune as โHR professionals are tasked with rolling out AI to their workforce but only 30% get the training they actually needโ and republished with permission.
