Concerns about artificial intelligence are increasingly shifting from fears about job losses to worries about long-term career relevance, with more than two in five workers now concerned their skills could become outdated.
New research from job site Totaljobs suggests a growing number of employees are experiencing “FOBO”, or the Fear of Becoming Obsolete, as rapid advances in AI and automation reshape workplace skills requirements. The study found that 42 percent of workers worry their existing skills could become outdated, while almost half said recent redundancies had left them feeling less secure in their current role.
It comes against a backdrop of a more competitive labour market. UK vacancies recently fell to 705,000, a five-year low, increasing pressure on workers to remain adaptable and continue developing new skills.
Workers respond with constant upskilling
The research suggests many employees are already taking steps to protect their future employability.
More than eight in ten workers said they feel they need to keep learning new skills to remain employable, while 72 percent reported taking on responsibilities beyond their formal role. More than a third said they had learned AI tools during the past year, and 86 percent said they would consider moving into a growth sector if necessary to improve their career prospects.
Despite those efforts, many workers believe employers have an important role to play in helping them remain relevant. The study found that 71 percent would feel more secure if their employer invested more in training and reskilling opportunities.
The findings echo wider concerns about how organisations will manage workforce development as AI continues to alter job requirements across sectors. While fears about technology replacing jobs have dominated discussion in recent years, the research suggests many employees are becoming increasingly concerned about whether their existing skills will remain valuable.
Employers face growing skills challenge
The study also points to mounting recruitment challenges for employers.
Finding candidates with the right skills is now the most commonly cited hiring difficulty, identified by 32 percent of employers. A further 20 percent said increasing skills requirements for open roles had become a challenge, while almost a quarter reported difficulty meeting salary expectations.
As a result, recruitment is becoming more focused on specialist capabilities. Employers reported the strongest demand in areas including AI and machine learning, technology and engineering, and data, analytics and cybersecurity.
The research suggests this is contributing to a broader move towards skills-based hiring, with employers placing greater emphasis on adaptability and learning potential alongside qualifications and experience.
Julius Probst, European labour economist at Totaljobs, said concerns were increasingly focused on future relevance rather than immediate job losses.
“What we’re seeing is not a simple contraction in the labour market, but a shift in where demand is focused. Hiring is becoming more concentrated in specialist and future-facing roles, even as businesses continue to restructure and adapt to changing economic conditions.”
Hiring confidence remains resilient
Despite economic uncertainty, the report found signs of resilience across the labour market.
More than four in ten organisations said they had increased recruitment activity, up from 36 percent previously, while only 5 percent expected hiring to decrease. Hiring confidence rose to seven out of ten employers and was strongest in information technology, manufacturing and professional services.
The research also found that 84 percent of workers would consider a new job opportunity, the highest level recorded by the study.
Probst said workers and employers were already adapting to changing skills demands.
“This is driving a move from job insecurity to ‘skills insecurity’, with individuals placing greater emphasis not just on job stability, but on their longer-term relevance in a rapidly evolving labour market.”
The research was based on surveys conducted in March and April 2026 involving 885 UK employers and HR decision-makers and 2,017 UK workers.
William Furney is a Managing Editor at Black and White Trading Ltd based in Kingston upon Hull, UK. He is a prolific author and contributor at Workplace Wellbeing Professional, with over 127 published posts covering HR, employee engagement, and workplace wellbeing topics. His writing focuses on contemporary employment issues including pension schemes, employee health, financial struggles affecting workers, and broader workplace trends.
- William Furney
- William Furney
- William Furney
- William Furney
