Concerns that artificial intelligence (AI) will eliminate jobs have been challenged by the latest data from the United Kingdom. More than half, or 54%, of UK businesses say AI is creating new jobs within their organisations, while also driving a major wave of investment in skills training.
The findings come from the Lloyds Business Barometer report. The figure comes amid rising AI adoption, which is increasingly seen as a key factor in competitiveness, workforce skills, and long-term business growth strategies. The survey offers a new perspective at a time when public discussion has often been dominated by concerns over mass redundancies caused by automation.
Although AI has been shown to create new roles, the skills gap remains a major challenge. Around 31% of businesses acknowledge that their current workforce still lacks the AI skills needed by their company. This has encouraged 43% of companies to introduce formal AI skills training, while a further 32% have expanded existing programmes.
In addition, 24% of companies are now prioritising AI skills in recruitment processes, while 21% are creating entirely new roles specifically related to AI. This shows a strategic shift from simply adopting technology to building more comprehensive internal capabilities.
Investment in this area is expected to continue growing strongly. A majority, 58%, of businesses plan to increase investment in AI tools and training over the next twelve months. Among those planning to increase investment, 42% are allocating between £25,000 and £100,000, while a further 26% are preparing larger budgets of between £100,000 and £250,000.
Adoption Gap Between Large and Small Companies
Data from the Lloyds Business Barometer also reveals a significant difference in AI adoption based on company size. Overall, nearly two-thirds, or 61%, of UK companies say they are already using AI in some form. However, the level of adoption varies considerably.
Large companies with annual turnover above £10 million reported an average AI adoption rate of 79%, far higher than smaller companies and businesses operating only in the domestic market. Almost two-thirds of these large companies said their workforce already has the AI skills required.
By contrast, small domestic companies face different barriers. Cost is the biggest obstacle for 23% of domestic companies, while international companies more frequently cite data quality, at 19%, as their main challenge. Overall, cost was cited by 18% of businesses as the most common barrier, followed by data quality and access to skills, each mentioned by 17% of respondents.
Investment motivations also differ. Among large companies already using AI, 74% cited productivity improvement as the main reason for continuing to invest. Confidence in the importance of AI for competitiveness is also strong, with almost six in ten businesses believing that companies failing to adopt AI risk falling behind competitors in the coming years.
However, this level of confidence is again influenced by company size. Around 73% of large companies agree with this view, compared with only 54% of the smallest companies. The findings suggest that the AI adoption gap could widen the competitive divide between larger and smaller players in the market.
AI Transformation Requires More Than Technology
Amanda Murphy, CEO of Lloyds Business and Commercial Banking, emphasised that AI holds significant potential for businesses. According to Murphy, AI has transformative potential comparable to the impact of the internet on business. However, she stressed that successful AI implementation depends on building internal skills, company culture, and confidence, not simply purchasing new technology.
This is particularly relevant given that AI adoption in the UK economy is increasing faster than workforce skills readiness. The data shows that the pace of technology adoption is not being matched by the development of human resource capabilities.
This creates a critical moment for businesses. Companies that can close the skills gap quickly may gain a long-term competitive advantage. Conversely, those that fail to adapt risk being left behind in an increasingly AI-driven market.
The Lloyds Business Barometer data also sends an important signal for the global labour market, including Indonesia. Rather than eliminating jobs, AI is driving the creation of new roles and increasing demand for workers with AI-related skills. For professionals, investing in AI skills is becoming a strategic step to remain relevant amid the accelerating pace of digital transformation.
Source from Telset.id
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