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• New research exposes a growing AI usage divide between senior leaders and junior employees
• 73% of senior managers use AI monthly, compared to just 32% of entry-level staff
• Millennials are revealed as the most frequent users of AI, ahead of Gen Z
• Poor AI implementation is linked to a staggering 50% fall in productivity
A new study from global employment platform Employment Hero has shed light on a widening “AI advantage gap” in UK workplaces, where business leaders are increasingly embracing AI, leaving junior staff trailing behind.
The Work that Works report reveals that while AI is enhancing productivity for those at the top, entry-level workers are not seeing the same benefits. A significant 73% of senior managers report using AI tools on a monthly basis, but this figure drops sharply to just 32% among entry-level roles.
Despite assumptions that Gen Z are the pioneers of workplace AI, the research identifies millennials as the most active users, showing they are driving adoption more consistently across job functions.
The findings point to a growing disparity across job levels and generations. Leaders are capitalising on AI’s capabilities, but many frontline staff remain without training, access, or role-specific tools—ultimately excluding them from the potential productivity gains.
One employer captured the challenge succinctly: “The installation of AI and making employees aware about how to use it, is the biggest challenge for our business nowadays,” said the Head of People at a firm with 50–99 staff.
The consequences of this uneven rollout are concerning. The report shows that employees who feel disconnected from AI initiatives experience a 50% drop in their own productivity. Businesses that fail to introduce or support AI usage are seeing performance decline as a result.
Small businesses are particularly vulnerable. Companies with fewer than 50 employees are only half as likely to implement AI systems—even though digital tools are widely recognised as essential drivers of productivity growth.
Compared with larger companies, small businesses are:
28% less likely to allocate budget towards digital technology
Nearly 50% less inclined to value technical skills in hiring decisions
More likely to describe their current strategy as “survival mode”
Without targeted support and training, these smaller firms face a growing risk of falling behind in the digital economy.
The report also challenges widespread fears about AI replacing jobs. In reality, it shows that regular AI users often feel empowered by the technology—40% report feeling less overwhelmed, while 38% say it improves the quality of their work.
Kevin Fitzgerald, UK Managing Director of Employment Hero, warns that current progress is uneven and unsustainable:
“AI is only delivering productivity gains for some, and that’s a huge problem.”
“For technology to drive meaningful change, it needs to be in the hands of everyone. That means investing not just in access to tools, but in the training, support and confidence people need to actually use them.”
“We need a trickle-down, human-centred approach to AI adoption. One that starts with leadership, but quickly and intentionally reaches every corner of the business.”
“Closing the AI advantage gap is essential – not just for the success of individual companies, but for improving productivity across the UK economy.”