Half of London businesses say their staff need more AI skills

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Half of businesses in London say their workforces lack the skills to use AI effectively, up from 37% a year ago. This finding comes from a poll of more than 2,000 companies, which provides a snapshot into how quickly the technology is transforming workplaces. Almost 80% of the firms surveyed predict they will need employees with advanced digital skills in the next two to five years, compared to just 56% in 2023. A fifth are preparing to cut entry-level jobs due to AI, but 83% also reported job vacancies. This indicates that AI is not simply replacing people – yet. It is also changing the way they work. This point is underlined by a study from McKinsey that concluded AI is capable of automating 57% of US work hours, but that these are spread across roles.