Only 30% of HR workers say they’ve received comprehensive, job-specific AI training, with 26% saying they’ve had none at all, according to a study of industry professionals from General Assembly, an upskilling and training platform. Another 12% say the training they’ve been given is too generic to be useful and another 18% say it’s been great for general knowledge but not for any kind of real application. 

“AI is transforming every aspect of work, but to harness its full potential, we need to upskill every department, especially HR,” said Daniele Grassi, CEO of General Assembly in a statement about the report. She notes that teams that receive training are 35% more likely to be confident in their skills than those who try to work on their skillset solo. 

When it comes to what they’re looking for when it comes to AI training, 70% of HR workers want workshops focused on specific HR use cases, and 63% want regular updates on these AI tools as they evolve. They’re also deeply skeptical about mandates. Only 6% say they’re motivated to use AI because company leaders are forcing them to, and 41% say the decision has created more work and pulled them away from other strategic priorities.   

So while HR leaders are keen on using the latest tech, and getting better at encouraging workers to adopt it, it’s clear that there’s still a training gap that persists for these professionals. And employers should be warned that if it’s not done right, it could lead to other problems.

“HR teams are on the frontlines of talent development and employee upskilling, and they must understand emerging workplace technologies,” says Grassi.