A new workplace trend is emerging for Gen Z employees: "AI Guilt", where younger workers increasingly see AI literacy as essential to their careers, but do not yet feel they have clear permission for using it openly at work. New data from Employment Hero, the global AI-powered employment platform, reveals that 50% of Gen Z workers feel guilty using AI to produce work, while 52% say using AI to do parts of their job feels like cheating.
50% of Gen Z workers feel guilty using AI to produce work.
52% say using AI to do parts of their job feels like cheating.
42% use AI without employer's knowledge; 42% present AI-generated work as their own.
64% of UK employers say AI has changed what they look for when hiring.
AI skills rank #5 in employer attributes, above prior experience (#6).
81% of Gen Z have taken it upon themselves to learn AI skills through social media.
The report revealed that nearly two thirds (64%) of UK employers say AI has changed what they look for when hiring, with "AI skills" officially entering the top five attributes employers look for in candidates - more important than "prior experience." The top attributes employers look for are work ethic and attitude (55%), communication and interpersonal skills (47%), ability to learn quickly (42%), digital literacy (39%), AI skills (36%), and prior experience (31%). This demand isn't going unnoticed: 37% of UK workers say that entry-level roles now specify AI knowledge, yet 23% don't feel their skills are sufficient to compete.
The result is a paradox at the heart of the modern workplace. 81% have taken it upon themselves to learn AI skills through social media. More than half (58%) of Gen Z workers say they feel positive about AI becoming a bigger part of their working life, compared with 25% who say they are worried. The issue is not whether young workers want to use AI, but whether they feel they have permission to use it openly, safely and in a way that builds confidence rather than guilt.
Ria Kaur, a University student and jobseeker, stated: "As a Gen Z student experiencing the world of work through internships and placements, I see AI everywhere. But I also find that, in workplace situations, AI can feel like my dirty little secret. I think this comes from the stigma around younger generations using AI, which becomes stronger in the workplace because of the frustrating idea that Gen Z are lazy. If a young person uses AI at work, it can feel like people assume they are offloading the task or taking the easy way out."
Kevin Fitzgerald, UK Managing Director at Employment Hero, stated: "There is a real contradiction emerging for young workers. They are being told that AI skills will be critical to their careers, and many are clearly enthusiastic about building those skills, but they still feel guilty when they actually use the tools. When half of Gen Z feel guilty using AI at work, and more than four in ten are doing so without their employer's knowledge, it shows that workplace norms have not yet caught up with employee behaviour."
About Employment Hero
Employment Hero is the global AI-powered employment platform helping small and medium businesses manage HR, payroll, and employee engagement.
