More American workers are using artificial intelligence on the job, but most are doing so without support or training from their employers, according to a new national survey from nonprofit organization Jobs for the Future (JFF).
The survey, conducted by AudienceNet, found that the share of workers using AI has jumped from 8% in 2023 to 35% in 2025. Among learners—defined as people currently enrolled in education or training—weekly AI use has climbed to 59%. Yet only 31% of workers said their employer offers any AI-related training, suggesting a significant gap between AI adoption and organizational support.
“AI should make us all better off by creating quality jobs, pathways to entrepreneurship, sustainable livelihoods, and opportunities to unleash human agency and potential,” said Kristina Francis, executive director of JFFLabs. “We risk widening divides if we don’t act now to ensure equitable access to training and tools.”
Self-directed learning is driving AI use
The survey found that AI usage on the job is largely being driven by individual initiative rather than employer programs. About 20% of workers said they use AI tools on their own initiative, nearly double the 11% who reported using them at their employer’s direction. Among all respondents, 60% reported using AI for self-directed learning.
Despite limited access to institutional support, workers are increasingly turning to AI to enhance productivity. More than half said AI is reducing repetitive or manual work. Still, 56% of respondents reported feeling unprepared to use AI in their current roles.
Training gaps wider for underrepresented workers
The data also highlight disparities in access and preparedness. Just 16% of all respondents had access to paid AI tools through their employer or educational institution. By contrast, 10% of the general population—and 15% of respondents of color—reported paying for AI tools out of pocket.
More than half of all respondents (53%) said they need to gain new skills in the next five years to stay competitive in an AI-driven labor market. That figure rose to 70% among people of color and 56% among people with arrest or incarceration records. Roughly one in five workers said they have already used AI to obtain a better job.
“AI is a powerful tool that creates efficiencies, but we also want to think about how we can augment what is uniquely human in a way that improves job quality,” said Michael Collins, senior vice president of population strategies at JFF.
Future career plans already shifting
The technology’s impact is already influencing career decisions. Seventy-seven percent of respondents said they expect AI to affect their job or career over the next three to five years, and nearly one in five said they are actively considering changing careers as a result.
The findings are based on a survey of 2,754 people aged 16 and older, conducted between November 20 and 27, 2024. To ensure broad representation, the survey oversampled populations often excluded from research on AI—including those without four-year degrees, people of color, women, and individuals with criminal records.
JFF said it is calling on employers, educators, policymakers, and investors to take coordinated action to ensure AI contributes to greater equity, quality jobs, and economic mobility.
