Half of UK Companies Say AI Created New Jobs in 2025

For the first time, more UK companies say artificial intelligence is creating jobs than eliminating them, offering a hopeful sign that the technology might expand opportunity rather than shrink it.

A survey of 1,200 UK businesses found that 54% say AI has created new positions at their companies. Twenty-one percent have added specialized AI roles, and nearly a quarter now prioritize AI skills when hiring.

The shift represents a major change in how business leaders think about AI's impact. Instead of just automating tasks, companies are discovering they need more people to work alongside these new tools.

Lloyds Bank conducted the survey in July as part of its monthly Business Barometer. The results suggest corporate thinking is moving from "AI will replace workers" to "AI will create different kinds of work."

The skills gap is real, though. Thirty-one percent of companies say their employees lack the AI knowledge they need right now. But businesses are responding: 58% plan to invest more in AI training over the next year.

Amanda Murphy, CEO of Lloyds Bank's Business & Commercial Banking division, compared AI's potential to the internet revolution. "Success isn't about access to technology alone," she said. "Building the skills, culture, and confidence to use it is what matters."

The job market data backs up the optimism. UK job postings requiring AI skills jumped from 112,000 in 2024 to 180,000 in 2025, according to PwC. Demand for professionals who use AI in their work surged 66% year over year.

Companies operating internationally are leading the charge. Sixty-three percent of globally active firms use AI, compared to 46% of businesses that operate only within the UK.

Why This Inspires

This story shows human adaptability at work. Rather than accepting job losses as inevitable, companies are choosing to invest in their people and create new opportunities. Lloyds Banking Group itself plans to grow AI-related roles to over 1,000 by 2026, with roughly 300 focused on cutting-edge AI applications.

The transformation won't be instant or easy. Cost remains the biggest barrier at 18%, followed by data quality and access to skills at 17% each. But businesses are tackling these challenges head-on with training programs and new hiring strategies.

The companies seeing success understand that AI works best when it amplifies human potential rather than replaces it. Workers who learn to partner with AI tools become more valuable, not less.

The future of work is being written right now, and UK businesses are choosing to write a story where technology and people grow together.