For much of the past decade, job hopping was seen as the clearest signal of ambition. Frequent moves were common, even expected, particularly among younger professionals. However, that behaviour is changing across UK businesses – spotlighting a shift worth paying close attention to. Amid the rapid rise of AI, the UK and Ireland workforce hasn’t lost its ambition. It’s choosing to invest it differently.
Research revealed an extraordinary 98% of workers in the UK and Ireland plan to stay with their current employer over the next year. The Adecco Group’s ‘Global Workforce of the Future’ survey also showed only 1% actively intend to leave – highlighting a sharp fall of 25% over the past three years.
The unexpected retention uplift sets the UK and Ireland apart. In many international labour markets, volatility persists and trust remains fragile between employers and their teams. Worldwide, only around one-third of workers qualify as ‘future-ready’ – by which we mean tech-savvy, proactive and adaptable – demonstrating the skills needed to thrive over the next five years. By contrast, confidence continues to grow in the UK and Ireland, where career optimism exceeds 90% across most age groups.
As businesses navigate the most significant period of workplace transformation in decades, a stable, committed, and loyal labour force will deliver a critical competitive edge.
Redefining terms
After all, AI is no longer theoretical. Our research also revealed generative AI use at work has surged in the UK and Ireland: from 17% in 2023 to over 60% in 2025. Nearly half of workers now use AI tools every hour. Globally, three in four employees view AI as an opportunity rather than a threat, and most expect jobs to evolve rather than disappear.
Within our organisation, the deployment of agentic AI tools is showing how technology can amplify – rather than erode – the human element of employment. AI agents are removing repetitive tasks from day-to-day roles, so colleagues are free to create real value in recruitment – by building trusted relationships, exercising judgement, and delivering higher-quality outcomes for clients.
Early evidence suggests this shift is not only boosting productivity but also building a more positive workplace culture, where colleagues prioritise high-impact work, rather than time-sapping admin tasks.
Crucially, global workers are not rejecting technology – but they are setting clear conditions for trust. Across markets, employees want human leadership, transparency, and direction. In the UK and Ireland, 91% believe humans should remain involved in key decisions, and 94% value recruiters’ ability to see candidate potential beyond formal criteria. This aligns closely with global findings that workers who feel a strong sense of purpose are almost twice as likely to stay with their employer.
Fit for the Future
In the current climate, stability has become an enabler – not a barrier – to digital transformation.
A workforce that feels secure is more willing to experiment, learn, and adapt. There’s a ripple effect to robust, forward-looking development programmes. We’re seeing employers increasing training investment by 38% year on year, nine out of ten workers feeling supported to progress, and future skills readiness doubling since 2024.
As a result, trust in leadership has strengthened – creating the ideal conditions for technology to take root. AI is already saving workers an average of three hours a day, and most are reinvesting that time in collaboration, learning, and higher-value work. Globally, future-ready workers, supported with skills, clarity, and involvement, show far higher AI positivity and greater productivity gains.
The lesson for employers is clear: technology must supplement human potential, not replace it. Blessed with the luxury of employee loyalty, businesses can capitalise on current attitudes, embedding AI through strong workplace cultures, clear values, and effective Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) policies that ensure fairness and foresight as roles evolve.
It’s the perfect time for sustained investment in upskilling, reskilling, and targeted training – teaching not just how AI tools operate, but how tech and talent combine for career progression and commercial success. Remember, in today’s labour market, lack of movement doesn’t mean lack of motivation. It’s a make-or-break message from a committed workforce, eager to explore AI’s endless possibilities. Our people are providing a green light for growth – and a stable foundation for a tech-enabled future.
