AI’s Surprising Effect on Employee Loyalty and Job Creation

According to Inc., the Adecco Group’s Global Workforce of the Future 2025 report surveyed 35,700 global employees including 5,500 U.S. workers, revealing that 77% of respondents say AI enables them to perform tasks previously beyond their reach. The survey found only 23% expect AI to eliminate company positions, while 76% believe it will create new jobs—a view shared by 90% of U.S. employees. AI adoption has become the top workplace concern in 2025, displacing previous priorities like flexibility and economic uncertainty, with 71% reporting nothing holds back increased AI use compared to just 19% the previous year. The data indicates a significant shift toward employees viewing AI as an opportunity rather than threat, with Adecco Group CEO Denis Machuel noting “three in four employees view AI as an opportunity, not a threat.” This optimistic workforce perspective provides crucial context for understanding AI’s real workplace impact.

The Unexpected Loyalty Dividend

The most striking finding from this research isn’t just about productivity—it’s about retention. The data reveals that 99% of self-described “future-ready” employees plan to stay with their current employers, compared to just 53% of less AI-capable workers. This represents a massive loyalty premium that companies investing in AI training and adoption are experiencing. What the survey doesn’t explicitly analyze is why this correlation exists, but from my industry observation, it likely stems from several factors: employees who feel their companies are investing in their future skills feel more valued, those working with cutting-edge tools perceive their employers as industry leaders, and workers gaining new capabilities through AI see clearer career progression paths within their current organizations.

The Collaboration Imperative Missing from Most AI Rollouts

While the survey highlights employee desire for more involvement in AI strategy, most companies are missing this critical component. Employees aren’t just asking for better tools—they’re asking to be “co-creators of the future of work,” as Machuel notes. In my analysis of numerous AI implementation cases, organizations that treat AI adoption as a top-down technology deployment rather than a collaborative redesign process consistently see lower adoption rates and missed opportunities. The survey shows progress—41% of future-ready employees are involved in job redesign versus 24% in 2024—but this still means nearly 60% of the most AI-engaged workers aren’t participating in how their roles evolve.

The Two-Hour Productivity Paradox

The finding that AI saves employees an average of two hours weekly creates both opportunity and risk that the survey only partially addresses. Some workers use this time for quality checking AI output, others for upskilling or creative work. But in my consulting experience, many organizations fail to provide guidance on how to best leverage this recovered time, leading to inconsistent benefits. Without clear frameworks for reinvesting these hours, companies risk creating a productivity paradox where time savings don’t translate to meaningful business impact. The most successful organizations establish “AI time reinvestment” programs that guide employees toward high-value activities like innovation, strategic planning, or skill development.

The Coming Generational Divide in AI Adoption

While the Adecco research focuses on current workforce attitudes, it hints at a larger trend I’ve observed across industries: we’re approaching a tipping point where AI literacy will become the primary differentiator in career advancement. The gap between “future-ready” employees (37% of respondents) and those struggling with AI adoption will likely widen rapidly. Companies like Adecco and other staffing firms are positioned to benefit from this divide, as organizations increasingly seek pre-trained AI-capable talent rather than investing in upskilling existing workforce.

Strategic Implications Beyond the Optimism

Beneath the positive surface data lies a more complex reality that business leaders must navigate. The rapid evolution in AI capabilities means today’s “future-ready” employees could become tomorrow’s legacy workforce without continuous learning. The survey’s focus on current AI applications misses the coming wave of more advanced systems that will require different skills and potentially create more dramatic workplace transformations. Companies celebrating high AI adoption rates today should be equally focused on building adaptive learning organizations that can continuously evolve as AI capabilities advance.

Why Human Connection Remains the Ultimate Competitive Advantage

Perhaps the most valuable insight from Machuel’s commentary is the reminder that “there is no substitute for human connection.” As AI handles more routine tasks, the human skills of empathy, collaboration, creativity, and strategic thinking become increasingly valuable. Organizations that balance technological advancement with investment in human-centric leadership and culture will likely outperform those focused solely on AI implementation. The survey suggests we’re at a pivotal moment where the most successful companies will be those that view AI not as a replacement for human capability, but as an amplifier of human potential.