64% of Irish employees expect to reskill due to AI - Accenture

The company's 'Generating Impact: Turning frontier AI capabilities into frontline productivity and growth in Ireland' report shows there is a growing gap between the speed of individual adoption and businesses making changes needed to use it effectively.

The research states that without targeted investment in skills, workflow redesign, and stronger core systems, Ireland could struggle to fully realize the productivity and growth benefits of AI. 

“Ireland has all the ingredients to lead in the age of AI: a skilled workforce, a public and private sector proven to deliver, deep connections with global technology industry, and genuine national ambition. Now the question is whether Irish business will play its part," said Hilary O'Meara, managing director of Accenture in Ireland.

"AI will reshape roles, skills, and career paths across every sector. Leaders must invest in their people as much as they invest in technology, building the confidence and capability that turn AI from a powerful tool into a way of working.

"That makes sustained investment in learning and training essential. The organizations that will thrive are those that embed AI into how they work, not just the tools they use.”

Seven in 10 (70%) respondents say AI and new technologies make their jobs better, but almost half (47%) say they have been expected to use new technology that they haven't been trained on.

A further 39% feel unprepared to work alongside AI tools or systems in their field.

Elsewhere, of those employees who are not regularly using generative AI tools to support their work, 35% say it's because they don’t understand AI tools well enough to feel confident using them.

Some 44% of Irish business leaders are investing in reskilling and redeployment pathways compared to just 30% in the UK.

However, the report suggests many organizations still lack the basics needed to scale confidently, with 25% of employers reporting that employees don’t have clear guidance on when and how to use AI tools/agents.

Furthermore, only 35% of Irish business leaders have conducted a formal AI skills audit. 

Around a fifth (22%) of workers use generative AI tools on a daily basis, representing a nearly three-fold increase since 2024 (8%)

'Shadow AI' persists though as a third (34%) say they use AI tools provided by their employer, while 30% report sourcing tools independently. 

The report found that the share of working hours in Ireland estimated to be in scope for AI-enabled reinvention has nearly doubled since 2024, from 42% to 82%.

However, only 29% of employees said a major process in their team has been redesigned around AI in the past year. 

“The opportunity AI presents is transformative for our businesses and wider economy, from boosting productivity to enabling entirely new ways of working," said Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke.

"But as this transformation gathers pace, it is essential that no organization or worker is left behind.

"Today’s report makes clear that while adoption of AI across Irish workplaces is accelerating and the overall potential is significant, the real priority must now be on people – ensuring they have the skills, confidence and support needed to engage with the technology effectively."

Two in five business leaders (40%) report cost reductions linked to AI, and the same proportion cite improved employee productivity.

However, value capture is still inconsistent. 72% of Irish executives say at least some of their AI budget is wasted, and 35% say AI has delivered little to no positive impact on profit and loss so far. 

Looking ahead, readiness for agentic AI remains low, with 54% of executives saying their organization is not ready to integrate AI agents with core enterprise systems.

Executives identified data security (37%) and regulatory concerns (32%) among the biggest barriers to scaling AI, alongside shortages of skilled talent (26%). 

“Our research shows that 22% of Irish workers now use generative AI tools daily, nearly three times the level seen in 2024," said Denis Hannigan, AI & data lead for Accenture in Ireland.

Employees appear to be moving faster than their organizations, creating a growing gap between day‑to‑day use and meaningful change in how work is done.

To move from experimentation to impact, AI needs to be built into everyday operations, supported by clear guidance for employees, stronger core technology systems, and sustained investment in reskilling. That’s where the real value lies.”

* This article was originally published on BusinessPlus.ie.