Unlocking AI’s potential for Union workers

Unlocking AI’s potential for union workers

AI has the potential to transform workplaces across the UK, driving productivity and efficiency gains worth billions. But for many unionised workers, AI remains an unfamiliar tool—one they rarely use or see as relevant to their jobs.

What We Found

Before undertaking AI training as part of Google’s AI Works programme:

  • Just 22% of union pilot participants said they used AI tools at work a few times a week or more.
  • Over a third (34%) had never used AI in their job before.
  • The biggest barriers to AI adoption cited were:
    • Lack of training on how to use AI effectively (45%).
    • Low confidence in using AI (32%).
    • Perception that AI isn’t relevant to their job tasks (31%).

Our polling also found that unionised workers are twice as likely as other groups to report low confidence in using AI and are more hesitant to adopt it in their roles. Many assume AI is designed for white-collar jobs, rather than for tasks like managing inventory, compiling reports, or supporting administrative work.

The Economic Opportunity

AI could unlock £400bn in economic gains by 2030, saving the average UK worker 100 hours a year (Public First for Google, Economic Impact Report 2023). For unionised workers alone, AI could deliver:

  • £89bn in economic benefits.
  • 61% of workers seeing increased productivity in their current job.
  • An average of one day per week saved on routine tasks [1].

But to realise this opportunity, we need to bridge the confidence and training gap.

What’s Next?

We are tracking the impact of AI training on worker confidence and usage before and after the training programme. This pilot will generate insights on how best to support unionised workers in integrating AI into their roles.

The AI Works initiative, spearheaded by Google, is testing different approaches to AI training across union workers, SMEs, and Multi-Academy Trusts. By exploring habit formation, trust, and role-specific upskilling, this programme aims to supercharge AI adoption and fuel the UK’s £400bn productivity boost.

[1] *We calculated that an average of one day per week is saved on routine tasks by worker A, using the implied productivity gain from our standard AI model (methodology detailed at the bottom of this blog). This was applied to trade union jobs, based on ONS data on trade union membership by sector*