# How people see AI skills and job risk

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/ai/how-adults-see-ai-skills-and-job-risk/
Published: 2026-05-11

> Featured topic in AI & Tech.

About 54% rate AI-tool skills as very or extremely important, while 69% expect AI in the workplace to lead to fewer job opportunities.

## Overview: AI at work

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.

## 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.

## 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.

## Supporting evidence

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

Question: - Skills to understand and use artificial intelligence tools or technology

Note: Shows AI-tool skills are broadly treated as important.

Topline:

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

### 69% expect fewer job opportunities from workplace AI.

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

Note: Captures the strongest job-opportunity concern.

Topline:

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

### 82% are concerned about AI taking jobs from humans.

Question: AI taking away jobs from humans

Note: Adds the broader concern about AI taking jobs from humans.

Topline:

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

## Methodology

- Mode: Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
- Population: US adults age 18+
- Field dates: 2025-07-30 → 2025-08-04
- Base (unweighted): 1,509
- Margin of error: +/- 3.1%
- Module: AI Adoption Survey July 2025
- Sponsor: Verasight
- Weight variable: weight
- Weighting targets: age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

## Sources

- [- Skills to understand and use artificial intelligence tools or technology](https://verasight-monthly-ai-july.tiiny.co): verasight-monthly-ai-july.tiiny.co: Shows AI-tool skills are broadly treated as important.
- [In the long run, do you think the use of AI in the workplace will lead to…](https://reports.verasight.io/r/august-ai-survey-2025#impact-of-ai-in-the-workplace): reports.verasight.io/r/august-ai-survey-2025: Captures the strongest job-opportunity concern.
- [How concerned are you about the following issues surrounding AI? - AI taking away jobs from humans](https://reports.verasight.io/r/august-ai-survey-2025#concerns-regarding-ai): reports.verasight.io/r/august-ai-survey-2025: Adds the broader concern about AI taking jobs from humans.
- [Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following: - I’m excited about the possibilities AI brings to my work](https://reports.verasight.io/r/august-ai-survey-2025#sentiments-toward-ai): reports.verasight.io/r/august-ai-survey-2025: Shows excitement at work is present but not dominant.

## Citation

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

Canonical question URL: [https://verasight-monthly-ai-july.tiiny.co](https://verasight-monthly-ai-july.tiiny.co)