- Nearly half of UK workers fear job losses, but agent usage continues to grow
- Workers are also worried about workplace monitoring
- Human oversight remains key, but worker retraining is a must
New data from GMB Union has revealed that nearly half (48%) of UK workers worry AI will take their job amid broader AI rollouts, which could be reducing uptake.
Nearly a third (29%) said their employers have introduced AI tools, with a quarter (26%) noting that artificial intelligence is now performing tasks they would normally do themselves, fueling the fears.
But beyond administrative support and potential job automation, a clear misunderstanding of the tech could be driving other workplace fears.
Workers concerned about job cuts despite increasing AI adoption
For example, nearly half (48%) believe AI is being used to monitor or track them, introducing new surveillance and performance monitoring fears.
GMB likens its findings to previous shifts like the advent of the internet – union reps argue AI could actually improve productivity, noting that displaced workers should get the support, training and opportunities they deserve.
The union pointed to two recent local layoffs in the UK, including around 1,000 jobs at Asda’s George division and 450 jobs at Nestlé. These examples, as well as the more than 117,000 tech workers that have been laid off already in 2026 (via layoffs.fyi), put meat on the bones of workers’ fears.
“We can’t just leave it to companies to do the right thing. As we all know, their priority will almost always be their bottom line,” one worker told GMB.
“The Government must legislate to protect workers’ jobs or guarantee retraining or redeployment when change is unavoidable.”
Separate Stack Overflow research also points toward growing AI adoption, noting a 90% year-over-year increase from 31% to 59%, as well as a 164% rise in daily use, indicative of more frequent use and higher trust.
However, even as employers start to integrate autonomous AI agents, the report highlights just how important human workers remain. Three in five rarely or never let agents complete tasks without human oversight (63%).
A similar number (60%) prevent agents from making unapproved system changes, too, with the rise of systems like Claude Code and Codex capable of greater autonomy.
Fears over immediate job losses are also written off, with companies still struggling with the same hurdles they’ve been facing for years, implying AI’s effects on workers could be years away yet. Around four in five are concerned about AI accuracy (82%) and security/privacy risks (77%).
Change is on the horizon
Things could be changing though, with companies beginning to be less worried about the same things they’ve been worried about for years. Though cost still serves as a major barrier for 38%, it’s down from 53% last year.
But even as AI adoption climbs, other studies have suggested we might not be at risk after all.
Separate research from the World Economic Forum expects 170 million new jobs to be created by 2030, even though 92 million could be displaced. With disruption estimated to affect 22% of workers, it could be more about repositioning roles and retraining workers than losing humans altogether.
Looking ahead, the WEF sees AI, data, networks, cybersecurity and technological literacy in general as the most in-demand skills.
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