How people see AI skills and job risk

May 11, 2026 · n = 1,509 · MoE ±3.1%Source report ↗

Core finding

Adults are not dismissing AI at work. They are separating the value of AI skills from worry about what AI does to jobs.

About 54% say AI-tool skills are very or extremely important. But 69% say AI in the workplace will lead to fewer job opportunities, and 82% are concerned about AI taking jobs from humans.

AI skills are treated as important

Adults tend to see AI-tool skills as part of the workplace skill set. About 54% say skills to understand and use AI tools are very or extremely important.

Another 33% call those skills somewhat important, leaving relatively few adults who say they are not too important or not at all important.

Stacked breakdown

54% say AI-tool skills are very or extremely important.

- Skills to understand and use artificial intelligence tools or technology

Extremely important
21.6%
Very important
31.7%
Somewhat important
32.9%
Not too important
9.2%
Not at all important
4.7%

n = 1,509 · Jul 30 – Aug 4, 2025 · MoE ±3.1%

Shows AI-tool skills are broadly treated as important.

The jobs read is much more cautious

The long-run jobs question points in the other direction. About 69% say AI in the workplace will lead to fewer job opportunities.

Concern about job displacement is also broad. Roughly 82% are at least somewhat concerned about AI taking jobs away from humans.

Topline

69% expect fewer job opportunities from workplace AI.

In the long run, do you think the use of AI in the workplace will lead to…

Fewer job opportunities
66.4%
Will not make much difference
19.9%
More job opportunities
13.7%

n = 1,519 · Sep 3–8, 2025 · MoE ±3.3%

Captures the strongest job-opportunity concern.

Stacked breakdown

82% are concerned about AI taking jobs from humans.

AI taking away jobs from humans

Extremely concerned
26.2%
Very concerned
26.1%
Somewhat concerned
30.0%
Not at all concerned
13.9%
I’m unfamiliar with this topic
3.7%

n = 1,519 · Sep 3–8, 2025 · MoE ±3.3%

Adds the broader concern about AI taking jobs from humans.

Excitement exists, but it does not settle the story

Adults are almost evenly split on whether they are excited about what AI brings to their work: 33% agree, 33% disagree, and 34% are neutral.

That makes the broader pattern practical rather than simply positive or negative. AI skills matter, but the job-risk concern is still the dominant public signal.

ModeVerasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
PopulationUS adults age 18+
Field datesJul 30 – Aug 4, 2025
Base (unweighted)1,509
Margin of error±3.1%
ModuleAI Adoption Survey July 2025
SponsorVerasight
Weight variableweight
Weighting targetsage, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

Sources

  1. 01

    - Skills to understand and use artificial intelligence tools or technology

    Shows AI-tool skills are broadly treated as important.

    verasight-monthly-ai-july.tiiny.co
  2. 02

    In the long run, do you think the use of AI in the workplace will lead to…

    Captures the strongest job-opportunity concern.

    reports.verasight.io/r/august-ai-survey-2025
  3. 03

    How concerned are you about the following issues surrounding AI? - AI taking away jobs from humans

    Adds the broader concern about AI taking jobs from humans.

    reports.verasight.io/r/august-ai-survey-2025
  4. 04

    Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following: - I’m excited about the possibilities AI brings to my work

    Shows excitement at work is present but not dominant.

    reports.verasight.io/r/august-ai-survey-2025

Cite this topic

AI Adoption Survey July 2025, fielded July 30-August 4, 2025, N=1,509 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.1%.