Workers based in London are more concerned about the impact of AI on their jobs than any other region in the UK, according to new research.

The Robert Half Jobs Confidence Index, an economic confidence tracker produced in partnership with the Centre of Economics and Business Research, found that 49 per cent of staff in the capital are concerned that AI will have a direct impact on their career in the next 12 months – the highest of all regions and nearly a fifth above the national average of 31 per cent.

East Midlands came in second place, with 35 per cent of respondents raising concerns about the impact on jobs.

The study, which surveyed 2,000 people across the UK, including 300 people in London, revealed that London-based workers expressed the greatest level of apprehension in the long term, with 61 per cent concerned about the impact of AI on their job in the next three to five years – once again the highest figure across all UK regions and above the national average of 41 per cent.

The data shows that uncertainty around jobs has led to 60 per cent of Londoners planning to invest in their own AI related training over the next five years, while a further 56 per cent said they expect their employer to foot the bill for their AI training during the same period.

“AI is on the cusp of creating a seismic shift in the workforce, but Londoners are clearly feeling the pressure more than anyone else, likely driven by the jobs in the Capital being weighted more towards professional and financial services than elsewhere in the country," said Chris Lawton, vice president permanent placements UK & Ireland, Robert Half. "With recent statistics suggesting job losses will be in the millions due to the rise of AI, it’s understandable that so many are hedging their bets and seeking to retrain and reskill.

"However, the emphasis shouldn’t just be on individuals supporting their own training. Businesses will ultimately be the ones to benefit from the best AI skills and potentially lose out due to a lack of the right resources."

---