Women, older staff lag in AI adoption, survey shows

Only 22% of women and 24% of workers aged above 45 in the financial sector feel prepared to work alongside AI technology, a Finance Sector Union survey of more than 1,000 staff has found.

The report shows that while AI use has surged, with 36% of workers saying they use it often – almost double the union’s 2024 finding – women and older employees continue to experience lower confidence, reduced access to AI tools, and weaker awareness of implementation.

National Assistant Secretary at the Finance Sector Union, Nicole McPherson said the rapid AI rollout has “left workers vulnerable, with employees being pushed to use AI without support or guidance.”

“Workers are being pushed into using AI without consultation, training, or transparency. Lawmakers and employers have completely failed to match the speed of this change,” McPherson said.

“A digital just transition is essential. Workers must be consulted, trained and protected. Their data must be safe and surveillance limited. And if AI changes or replaces roles, workers must have real pathways to redeployment.”

Women’s lower confidence is reflected in their desire for more training, with 64% of female respondents saying “general AI awareness training” would benefit them, compared with 56% of men, while only 47% of workers aged over 45 reported receiving any AI guidance from their employer, compared with 59% of under-45 staff.

The survey also highlighted broader impacts, particularly workplace surveillance, with older employees reporting higher monitoring while younger staff were slightly more likely to describe its effects as negative or extremely negative.

Workers quoted in the report said AI must never become a simple cost-cutting tool and warned against algorithmic monitoring that pressures conversations and outcomes.

“I feel constantly watched. Every click and pause is monitored, making me anxious throughout the day,” one surveyed worker said.

“I don’t feel prepared for any of this. It’s changing too fast and we’re expected to keep up with no support,” another responded.

The FSU has announced the creation of a roadmap for a digital just transition to ensure workers have a say on how AI is used and are protected. The transition is built on four pillars: consultation, education, data and surveillance protections, and fair redundancy and redeployment.