AI adoption is strong among entry-level workers across sectors and economies – and it’s making work life easier and more enjoyable, reports Generation  

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A new global survey from Generation, the employment nonprofit that trains and places people into meaningful careers, reveals how entry-level workers are rapidly adopting AI tools – while also exposing some divides between those confidently using AI and those not yet there. 

The report, AI at Work: A Global Entry-Level Perspective, was developed with support from MetLife Foundation. It draws on responses from more than 5,500 Generation global alumni who graduated in 2023 and 2024. It focuses on the AI experience of entry-level workers, most without a college degree, across a range of industries and 17 diverse economies. This offers a fresh perspective since most surveys have focused on professional service workers in high-income countries. 

AI is already part of daily life for many 

The analysis shows that AI use is widespread among entry-level employees, with 65% reporting that they use AI at work. Half are adopting AI on their own initiative, while the rest use tools provided by their employers or a combination of the two. 

Among AI users, 79% engage with AI tools at least once a week, rising to 89% in the tech sector. More than a third (37%) use AI daily.  

Men are heavier users of AI than women 

AI use among women lags that among men, with 53% of women across sectors saying they use it at work versus 76% of men. This gap narrows when you look specifically at the tech sector, with 80% of women saying they are using AI and 86% of men.  

Sector differences are strong. Within tech and customer service & sales sectors, adoption across genders is high – 87% and 80% respectively. However, adoption in the green economy and skilled trades remains low, with just 12% and 10% of entry-level employees in these sectors using AI.  

AI is being used in multiple ways by employees 

Entry-level employees are using AI for a broad range of tasks. In the tech sector, for example, 67% of respondents use AI for multiple functions – including learning (61%), content creation (49%), and administrative tasks (44%). In customer service and sales, content creation (43%) and learning (35%) are the top uses. 

And while use is lower in green jobs and skilled trades, early adopters in these fields are using AI to primarily learn new skills and create content.