Today, online career resources platform Resume Genius released findings from its Job Seeker Insights Survey, examining how 1,000 U.S. job seekers perceive artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace. The survey found that job seekers had mixed opinions on AI, with 62% of respondents doubting AI’s ability to make work easier. As discussions about AI’s development potentially plateauing gain traction, job seekers from the survey also voiced their thoughts about its ability to threaten job security and replace them in the future.
“Despite all the money invested in AI and the hype surrounding it over the past few years, the technology is still far from perfect. Workers can’t depend entirely on AI, especially as industries are still learning how to use it effectively while considering what long-term implications it’ll have on their business,” said Eva Chan, Lead Career Expert at Resume Genius. “Workers often spend extra time supervising and fixing AI output, so for now, it’s more of a helpful tool than a standalone solution. AI’s full potential is still a work in progress.”
Geoffrey Scott, Senior Hiring Manager at Resume Genius, added: “The skepticism we’re seeing reflects how workers experience AI today — often as a tool that seems powerful at first, but on closer inspection requires manual effort to use effectively. We still have a long way to go before the workforce is comfortable using different AI tools and executives fully understand the use cases and drawbacks of AI-powered software use at their companies.
Overall Beliefs About AI in the Workplace
The Job Seeker Insights Survey revealed that job seekers are generally skeptical about AI’s ability to improve their work experience:
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62% of job seekers don’t think AI will reduce their workload.
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69% don’t believe AI will boost job performance.
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34% are worried about AI replacing them.
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33% see AI as a security risk.
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30% expect AI to increase job competition.
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30% think AI will harm salaries.
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23% are worried AI will steal their work for training algorithms.
Views on AI in the Workplace by Generation
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Gen Z
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66% don’t think knowing how to use AI tools will make them more hireable.
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67% don’t view AI as a security risk.
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61% doubt AI will reduce their workload.
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Millennials
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64% don’t believe AI will boost their job performance.
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60% don’t think AI skills make them more hireable.
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61% doubt AI will reduce their workload.
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62% don’t think knowing how to use AI tools will make them more hireable.
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41% fear AI will replace them.
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40% cite AI as a security risk.
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68% doubt AI will reduce their workload (the highest skepticism of the generations).
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65% don’t think knowing how to use AI tools will make them more hireable.
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33% fear AI will replace them.
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Gen X
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Boomers
"Although we’re still not sure how AI will continue to reshape the workplace, Gen Z and Millennials are more optimistic about its potential — likely seeing it as an unavoidable technology where they either figure it out or get left behind,” said Scott. “Despite generational differences in how AI is viewed, it’s here to stay, and the best approach for job seekers is to at least understand it, if not dive in headfirst and become familiar with how to use AI tools.”
Chan commented, “As AI is used for more and more technical tasks, soft skills like communication, adaptability, and emotional intelligence are becoming even more valuable. Develop your soft skills by seeking mentorship, participating in team projects, and practicing active listening and conflict resolution in workplace scenarios. You’ll also need to showcase these abilities during interviews or through real-world examples to prove you’ve successfully navigated challenges or contributed to a team’s success.”
Gender Breakdown of Beliefs
Women and men from the Job Seeker Insights Survey hold differing views on AI:
- 66% of women doubt AI will reduce their workload, compared to 58% of men.
- 36% of women are concerned that AI will replace them, compared to 32% of men.
- 36% of women view AI as a security risk, compared to 28% of men.
- 26% of men believe AI will improve job performance, compared to 37% of women.
Beliefs on AI in the Workplace by Region
Americans overall expressed significant skepticism about AI’s impact on their work, with four in five (79%) holding at least one negative belief about AI in the workplace. Key takeaways about U.S. regional findings are as follows:
- Midwesterners are the most skeptical, with 69% doubting AI will reduce their workload and 83% expressing at least one concern about AI.
- Southerners and Northeasterners fell in between, with 62% and 61%, doubting AI will lighten their workload, respectively.
- 77% of Southerners and 78% of Northeasterners expressed at least one negative belief about AI.
- Westerners are the most optimistic out of the regions, with 57% doubting AI will reduce their workload.
To read the full report, visit https://resumegenius.com/blog/job-hunting/job-seeker-insights-survey#ai. For any questions, contact Eduardo Fan at eduardo@resumegenius.com.
Methodology
The Job Seeker Insights Survey mentioned was conducted by Resume Genius in collaboration with Pollfish. The study aimed to understand US job seekers’ attitudes and behaviors during the job search process from writing their resumes to deciding what company to join. The survey also sought to identify generational and gender differences in these attitudes and behaviors, particularly in regard to mental health, job hopping, and the influence of AI. To qualify, respondents were required to be actively seeking a job. Of those participants, 500 were employed, and 500 were currently unemployed. The survey was conducted online on August 2, 2024, and targeted a sample size of 1,000 participants.
Demographic breakdown of the 1,000 respondents is as follows: Gender: Female (55%), Male (45%); Age Groups: Baby Boomers (11%), Gen X (22%), Millennials (42.1%), Gen Z (24.6%), Silent Generation (0.3%); Income Levels: Under $25,000 (35.4%), Between $25,000 and $50,000 (18.1%), Between $50,000 and $75,000 (12.7%), Between $75,000 and $100,000 (11.4%), Between $100,000 and $125,000 (4.6%), Between $125,000 and $150,000 (5.2%), $150,000 or more (8.1%), Prefer not to say (4.5%); Education: Elementary School (0.1%), Middle School (5.4%), High School (45.9%), Vocational/Technical (14.3%), University (23.6%), Post-Graduate (10.7%); Employment Status: Employed and looking for work (50%), Unemployed and looking for work (50%). Regional breakdown: South (n = 440), Midwest (n = 201), West (n = 177), Northeast (n = 174), No region specified (n = 8).
About Resume Genius
Since 2009, Resume Genius has combined innovative technology with leading industry expertise to simplify the job hunt for people of all backgrounds and levels of experience.
Resume Genius’s easy-to-use resume builder and wide range of free career resources, including resume templates, cover letter samples, and resume writing guides, help job seekers find fulfilling work and reach their career goals. Resume Genius is led by a team of dedicated career advisors and HR experts and has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, CNBC, and Business Insider.
