A national survey released today by the nonprofit Jobs for the Future (JFF) reveals a significant downturn in worker sentiment regarding Artificial Intelligence. In a sharp reversal from 2024 data, workers are now more likely to view AI as a net-negative for job seeking, wealth building, and overall quality of life. The research, conducted in late 2025, highlights a growing "training gap," with only about one-third of the workforce reporting that they receive the necessary guidance from employers to utilize AI effectively. This shift suggests that as AI becomes ubiquitous, the lack of worker agency and support is fueling widespread concern over the pace of adoption.
More workers now believe AI does more harm than good, a complete flip from 2024 sentiment.
Only 36% of workers feel they have the training to use AI, down from 45% a year ago.
40% of early-career workers are considering changing career plans due to AI’s impact.
56% of employees report their employers have not consulted them on AI implementation.
Workers are moving away from content generation toward using AI for research and innovation.
47% of the workforce acknowledges an immediate need to upskill due to AI-driven changes.
Despite increased AI adoption across industries, employer-led training has failed to keep pace with technological integration. Access to resources remains uneven; workers without four-year degrees and women in that demographic are significantly less likely to receive AI training compared to their peers. This lack of support is particularly felt by early-career professionals. Those with less than one year of experience report the greatest difficulty in securing jobs, with 74% noting that AI is fundamentally changing their roles.
"As it becomes ubiquitous in our working lives, AI still has the potential to help more people access quality jobs, practice new skills, and build sustainable livelihoods," said Ben Pring, Vice President of JFF's Center for Artificial Intelligence & the Future of Work. "But the new survey shows growing concern about the pace of AI adoption and a clear gap in employer support. Workers want to be part of the transition—and we risk widening gaps if they are not given the tools and voice they need to engage."
The survey data reflects a change in how AI is utilized on the job. While the use of AI to generate content dropped from 37% to 31% over the last year, reported uses for research, learning, and innovation each saw increases of at least five percentage points. This indicates a transition toward more complex, analytical applications of the technology. Consequently, workers are increasingly recognizing that their skill sets must evolve. Only 7% of workers now believe AI is not changing the importance of their skills, a massive drop from 42% just one year ago.
This pressure to adapt is felt most acutely among workers of color, with 44% stating they need to gain new skills within the next year. Furthermore, the American Job Quality Study (AJQS) suggests that worker influence is a key predictor of job satisfaction. Employees who have a say in how technology is deployed are twice as likely to report high satisfaction, yet the majority remain excluded from these decisions.
Beyond the immediate workplace, broader societal concerns are rising. For the first time, a plurality of respondents (44%) view AI as a net-negative for finding jobs and securing a sustainable livelihood. Women, in particular, expressed higher levels of concern, with 49% stating AI does more harm than good across society. As AI systems and agents become the "front door" to information and professional tasks, the lack of a standardized path for worker inclusion threatens to undermine the potential benefits of AI-driven innovation.
The JFF research underscores that for AI to support economic advancement, practitioners and policymakers must prioritize job quality and equitable access to training. Without a concerted effort to include worker voices in the transition, the gap between technological capability and worker readiness will likely continue to expand.
JFF transforms U.S. education and workforce systems to drive economic success for people, businesses, and communities.
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