A new survey of 2,000 adults (conducted between July 28 and Aug. 2, 2026) explored how Americans see artificial intelligence affecting the workplace. More than half (57%) went as far to say AI certifications are the new “career currency.”
The study from Colorado State University Global (CSU Global) and Talker Research found this opinion to be popular especially among millennials (65%) and Gen Z (64%).
In the next five years, Americans see problem solving skills (17%), adaptability (16%), communication skills (15%) and critical thinking skills (15%) as the most valuable qualifications. Gen Z specifically named leadership skills (17%), higher education (15%), time management (13%) and creativity (13%) as most important skills.
For skills that will become valuable in the workplace quickly, knowing how to use AI was named as No. 1 (18%).
Despite this, AI in the workplace still has pretty mixed reviews. Less than half (48%) have a favorable opinion on workplace AI integration; Gen Z (58%) and millennials (56%) leaned more in favor of AI than older generations did.
Image: Gloria Mendoza / BetterImagesofAI. CC BY 4.0.
Dr. Audra Spicer, CSU Global Interim President and CEO, said AI adoption faces barriers including “employee confidence, organizational culture and training.” She said educational opportunities and organizational leadership can help “bridge that divide,” adding that professionals need the grounding to use AI “responsibly and efficiently” as the technology becomes more widely used.
As Spicer explains, 62% of employed respondents would use AI more at work if they were more confident in its effectiveness, encouraged to use it more or had more training on it.
Nearly half (48%) don’t feel qualified to use AI at work, but the thought of learning how makes workers feel excited (24%), curious (23%), optimistic (22%) and motivated (22%).
Use AI or not, two-thirds of those in the workforce think it will impact their career path within the next year.
For what specifically will be impacted, half of all Americans think every new hire will be required to know how to use AI at work within the next six months. Gen Z think it will impact how success is measured (15%); whereas baby boomers (28%), Gen X (20%) and millennials (16%) all agree that AI will change how people are trained.
In spite of all of this change, all generations feel safe from AI replicating their empathy (55%), work ethic and discipline (50%), emotional intelligence (47%), sociability (40%), and resilience (40%).
Fact-Checked by Irfan Ahmad.
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The study from Colorado State University Global (CSU Global) and Talker Research found this opinion to be popular especially among millennials (65%) and Gen Z (64%).
In the next five years, Americans see problem solving skills (17%), adaptability (16%), communication skills (15%) and critical thinking skills (15%) as the most valuable qualifications. Gen Z specifically named leadership skills (17%), higher education (15%), time management (13%) and creativity (13%) as most important skills.
For skills that will become valuable in the workplace quickly, knowing how to use AI was named as No. 1 (18%).
Despite this, AI in the workplace still has pretty mixed reviews. Less than half (48%) have a favorable opinion on workplace AI integration; Gen Z (58%) and millennials (56%) leaned more in favor of AI than older generations did.
Dr. Audra Spicer, CSU Global Interim President and CEO, said AI adoption faces barriers including “employee confidence, organizational culture and training.” She said educational opportunities and organizational leadership can help “bridge that divide,” adding that professionals need the grounding to use AI “responsibly and efficiently” as the technology becomes more widely used.
As Spicer explains, 62% of employed respondents would use AI more at work if they were more confident in its effectiveness, encouraged to use it more or had more training on it.
Nearly half (48%) don’t feel qualified to use AI at work, but the thought of learning how makes workers feel excited (24%), curious (23%), optimistic (22%) and motivated (22%).
Use AI or not, two-thirds of those in the workforce think it will impact their career path within the next year.
For what specifically will be impacted, half of all Americans think every new hire will be required to know how to use AI at work within the next six months. Gen Z think it will impact how success is measured (15%); whereas baby boomers (28%), Gen X (20%) and millennials (16%) all agree that AI will change how people are trained.
In spite of all of this change, all generations feel safe from AI replicating their empathy (55%), work ethic and discipline (50%), emotional intelligence (47%), sociability (40%), and resilience (40%).
Fact-Checked by Irfan Ahmad.
Read next:
• Record Attacks on Education Disrupt Learning for Millions of Children Worldwide
• Large Language Models Are Pushing the Web Toward Zero Clicks
