48% companies are already claiming to use AI, but are their employees ready for this transformation?

As companies adopt generative AI, leaders must reflect on whether employee training is keeping pace with this evolution. Nearly half of global employers (48%) already use AI, but a lack of talent with specific skills worries 31% of them. The data is from... 2025 Trend Report ManpowerGroup, a global leader in workforce solutions. 

Despite a focus on innovative adoption, companies often encounter a lack of professional preparation for using AI tools. This can contribute, among other factors, to a talent shortage in the market – the index in Brazil reaching 81%, according to data from... Talent Shortage Research Also from ManpowerGroup. Beyond simply implementing technology, leaders need to analyze *why* and *how* they will use it, and what skills employees need to develop.  

This is because many companies end up focusing on the productivity that AI can bring, without clearly defining the strategic intent of its use. It does help with productivity, provided there are humans behind it to take it to its maximum potential. Proof of this is that the performance of trained professionals can increase by up to 40% with the tool, compared to those who do not use it, according to Harvard Business Review studies, with the Boston Consulting Group.  

However, for Andréa Felgueiras, executive marketing manager for talent attraction at ManpowerGroup, those who haven't yet developed this skillset may feel overwhelmed by the productivity demands that come with AI. “The lack of clarity regarding how solutions will be adopted, and the preparation of employees, can negatively impact mental health and efficiency. Many don't understand what AI is, so they won't know how to optimize its use. At the same time, others may understand it but lack the necessary skills for the job. To avoid these scenarios, companies need to start from scratch, identifying how the tools will be used and what potential bottlenecks and challenges exist, both for employees and business innovation," she comments.  

To enable employees to successfully use the available resources, it's beneficial to map their knowledge levels regarding artificial intelligence. This allows us to determine the appropriate learning paths for each profile, whether introductory or intensive courses. From there, we should establish learning journeys for different skill levels and monitor their progress. 

This continuous training proves to be the path to meeting the growing demand for professionals capable of working with AI and bridging the existing skills gap. Employers need to explore it as a way to grow their business and counter the talent shortage.  

"This training and awareness about AI must be a 360-degree movement, encompassing all sectors of the company, not just a part of it. This includes C-level executives and leaders, who will take the lead and manage employees; and recruiters, who will be on the lookout for new talent and need to know how to identify the necessary AI skills," comments the executive. "Of course, professionals being curious and dedicated to training are important differentiators, but in this race to adopt AI, it's the companies that take the leading role," she adds. 

These changes will help professionals and employers avoid becoming obsolete in the face of AI's evolution in the job market. After all, in five years, 69 million new jobs will be created, and the required skills are expected to change by 50% (compared to 2016); generative AI alone is expected to accelerate this transformation to 68%, the report states. World Economic Forum data.   

The executive reinforces that the movement will demand cultural transformations in companies, like every innovation before it that redefined the way of working. "It's necessary to find the balance between wanting to innovate and having a team prepared for it," Andréa adds.