Irish workers see productivity gains from AI, but adoption remains low.
Irish employees who use artificial intelligence at work report significant improvements in productivity, quality and creativity, according to PwC’s latest Workforce Hopes & Fears Survey.
Yet daily use of generative AI tools remains limited, highlighting a gap between potential and practice.
“We’re seeing teams become faster and more creative, but the real opportunity isn’t just about making existing processes more efficient – it’s about rethinking how work gets done altogether”
The survey, which polled nearly 50,000 workers globally across 48 economies, found that 67% of Irish AI users say the technology makes them more productive, while 64% report higher quality of work and 55% see greater creativity. Globally, those figures are even higher, at 74%, 75% and 69% respectively.
The AI workplace is here
Despite these benefits, only 10% of Irish respondents use generative AI tools every day, up from 3% last year. A further 43% say they have used AI in their role at some point over the past 12 months. Daily use of agentic AI is even lower, at just 3%.
“The future of work is already being shaped by AI, and the biggest gains are going to those who are embracing it now,” said Laoise Mullane, director and AI Adoption lead at PwC Ireland.
“We’re seeing teams become faster and more creative, but the real opportunity isn’t just about making existing processes more efficient – it’s about rethinking how work gets done altogether.”
The report also points to an uneven approach to upskilling. Just 57% of Irish workers say they have access to the learning and development resources they need, compared with 59% globally. Half of Irish respondents feel their team treats failure as an opportunity to learn, slightly below the global average.
Financial pressures remain a concern. Fifty-nine%of Irish workers report experiencing financial strain, down marginally from 60% last year. More than a third feel overwhelmed at work at least once a week, and fewer than half received a pay rise in the past year. Only 11% secured a promotion.
Ger McDonough, Partner in PwC Ireland’s Workforce Advisory Practice, said organisations that align employees with leadership goals stand to gain significantly. “AI is already paying off for those who use it every day,” he said.
“Workers thrive when they understand the plan – alignment with leadership sees motivation rise by 78%. In a year of continued financial strain and many workers feeling overwhelmed, leaders must redesign work and provide clarity and confidence.”
-
Bank of Ireland is welcoming new customers every day – funding investments, working capital and expansions across multiple sectors. To learn more, click here
-
For support in challenging times, click here
-
Listen to the ThinkBusiness Podcast for business insights and inspiration. All episodes are here. You can also listen to the Podcast on:
-
Spotify
-
SoundCloud
-
Apple
