We surveyed over 4,000 office workers across the U.S., the UK, and Germany about their views on how technology is changing their jobs, what they think of advanced tech (like AI) in the workplace, and how confident they feel about the future of their careers. Instead of reporting anxiety about how future tech might diminish their roles, office workers are optimistic about how it can boost productivity and have AI work for them. Dive in to learn more. For a quick look, check out our infographic featuring results from U.S. respondents [https://www.slideshare.net/adobe/the-future-of-work-more-than-a-machine-infographic] and a similar study we released in May 2016 surveying more than 2000 office workers in the U.S., U.K. and India. [http://www.adobe.com/content/dam/acom/en/aboutadobe/pdfs/Future-of-Work-2016.pdf]
2. 1
THE FUTURE OF WORK: MORE THAN A MACHINE
METHODOLOGY & KEY FINDINGS
Office Professionals How Many When How
Methodology
18+, Employed
full- or part-time
U.S.: 1,042
U.K.: 2,026
GERMANY: 1,002
Sample Margin of Error (MOE):
~±3 % for U.S. & Germany, ~±2 % for U.K.
May 17, 2017 – May 30, 2017 20-Minute online survey
This study builds on the May 2016 research study “Work in Progress,” (which was conducted among U.S., U.K., and Indian office workers).
Year-over-year (YOY) comparisons shown where applicable.
Note: Data in a few charts may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
3. 2
THE FUTURE OF WORK: MORE THAN A MACHINE
METHODOLOGY & KEY FINDINGS
Office workers want artificial
intelligence (AI) at work
Office workers rely on technology to get their work done, but don’t yet see the full potential of AI.
• A large majority of office workers in the U.S., U.K., and Germany believe:
–– Technology makes them more productive (89% in U.S., 85% in U.K.
and 88% Germany).
–– Technology improves work-life integration (88% in U.S., 83% in U.K.
and 86% in Germany).
–– Technology helps connect them better with co-workers (82% in U.S.,
73% in U.K. and Germany). (PAGE 5)
• More than eight in 10 U.S. office workers (84%) agree that technology
frees them from boring tasks (78% in U.K. and Germany). (PAGE 6)
• Almost 90% say better technology would make their workday easier
(88% in U.S., 86% in U.K. and 85% in Germany). (PAGE 6)
• 72% U.S. and 76% German office workers are interested in using
intelligent personal assistants1 for work. U.K. office workers are less
interested (66%). (PAGE 7)
• These respondents are mostly interested in AI’s help for simple
tasks like:
–– Reminders of tasks and appointments (49% in U.S., 46% in U.K., 41%
in Germany) and;
–– Help with finding or editing electronic documents (25% in U.S., 28%
in U.K., 26% in Germany). (PAGE 8)
• They are less interested in getting creative suggestions or inspiring
content for writing or design tasks (18% in U.S., 16% in U.K., 20% in
Germany). (PAGE 8)
• Despite wanting AI to help them, office workers still seek human
contact. Germans (83%), in particular, see face-to-face interactions as
important, compared to 70% in U.S. and 68% in U.K. (PAGE 9)
1Intelligent personal assistants are: voice-activated devices used today for such tasks as getting information from the web, making to-do lists, etc.
4. 3
In the future, workers see technology
freeing them from menial tasks
Most office workers feel that their jobs will continue to be inherently human.
Many don’t feel very equipped to succeed in a workplace infused with advanced technology.
• 87% percent of U.S., U.K., and German office workers expect their jobs
to change in five years. (PAGE 11)
• U.S. office workers predict that 63% of menial office tasks will be done
by technology in the next 20 years (60% in U.K., 56% in
Germany). (PAGE 12)
• Two-thirds of U.S office workers think their job requires human abilities
that technology will never replace (68% in U.K., 60% in
Germany). (PAGE 12)
• Almost eight in 10 respondents say successful office workers of the
future will be better collaborators (vs. those who work best
alone). (PAGE 13)
• Office workers believe that people who can do lots of things (vs. those
who specialize in one area) will be more valued (76% in U.S., 76% in
U.K., 56% in Germany). (PAGE 13)
• Less than a third of U.S. and German office workers and 19% of U.K.
office workers feel very equipped to succeed in a technology-rich work
environment of the future. (PAGE 14)
• State, local, and national governments can do more:
–– About a third of U.S. and U.K office workers and 22% in Germany
say national governments are not effective in preparing tomorrow's
workforce. (PAGE 15)
THE FUTURE OF WORK: MORE THAN A MACHINE
METHODOLOGY & KEY FINDINGS
5. 4
THE FUTURE OF WORK: MORE THAN A MACHINE
Section 1
OFFICE WORKERS
WANT AI AT WORK
They see more immediate benefits in AI
freeing them from menial tasks
4
6. 5
Technology enables productivity
and collaboration
Technology’s Role in the Workplace
Among U.S., U.K., German Office Worker Total — Showing % Selecting
Helps me to be more productive Improves my ability to integrate
work and life responsibilities
Helps me connect better
to my co-workers
United
Kingdom
United
Kingdom
United
Kingdom
United
States
United
States
United
States
Germany Germany Germany
Q14. Which of the following most closely aligns with your opinion of technology in the workplace?
Q15. How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about your work? Showing Top 2 (Somewhat agree + Completely agree)
U.S. N: 1042, U.K. N: 2026, GER N: 1002
89%
88%
82%
85%
83%
73%
88%
86%
73%
THE FUTURE OF WORK: MORE THAN A MACHINE
SECTION 1: OFFICE WORKERS WANT AI AT WORK
7. 6
Technology frees office workers
from menial work
Technology’s Role in the Workplace
Among U.S., U.K., German Office Worker Total — Showing Top 2 Box (Strongly + Somewhat Agree)
Can free me up from doing
repetitive or boring tasks
Would make my work day better / easier1
Q15. How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about your work? (Top 2 box reported)
U.S. N: 1042, U.K. N: 2026, GER N: 1002
1YOY, up from 74% in U.S and 64% in U.K. (2016 Work in Progress Study)
United
Kingdom
United
Kingdom
United
States
United
States
Germany Germany
84% 88%
78%
86%
78%
85%
THE FUTURE OF WORK: MORE THAN A MACHINE
SECTION 1: OFFICE WORKERS WANT AI AT WORK
8. 7
Interest in Using Intelligent Personal Assistant for Work
Among U.S., U.K., German Office Worker Total — Showing Top 2 Box
Most office workers want to use AI at work
Q25. How interested would you be in using an intelligent personal assistant for work-related tasks today? (“Interested” combines responses for “somewhat interested and very interested”)
U.S. N: 1042, U.K. N: 2026, GER N: 1002
United
Kingdom 66%
United
States 72%
Germany 76%
THE FUTURE OF WORK: MORE THAN A MACHINE
SECTION 1: OFFICE WORKERS WANT AI AT WORK
9. 8
MENIAL TASKS
Work-Related Tasks for Intelligent Personal Assistant (IPA)
Among U.S. Office Workers who are interested in Using IPAs for work — Showing % Selecting
46%
32%
16%
10%
16%
28%
31%
41%
32%
14%
11%
20%
26%
33%
Reminding
me of tasks or
appointments
Doing research
on a work topic
Searching all
my electronic
documents for
information
Helping me find or
edit an electronic
document
Giving me creative
suggestions or
inspiring content
for writing or
design tasks
Giving me feedback
on tone or style for
e-mails or longer
documents.
Suggesting how to
grow my network
of colleagues
Office workers prefer AI for simple tasks
over complex or “human” ones
Q26. For which of the following work-related tasks would you be most interested in using an intelligent personal assistant?
INTERESTED USING IN INTELLIGENT PERSONAL ASSISTANT: U.S. N: 746, U.K. N: 1334, GER N: 758
United
Kingdom
Germany
COMPLEX TASKS
49%
36%
31%
25%
18%
16%
10%
THE FUTURE OF WORK: MORE THAN A MACHINE
SECTION 1: OFFICE WORKERS WANT AI AT WORK
10. 9
Even in a more technical world, office
workers prioritize face-to-face contact
Importance of Face-to-Face Interaction to Success in Job
Among U.S., U.K., German Office Worker Total — Showing Top 2 Box (Very Important + Important)
Q8. How important is human face-to-face interaction to success in your current job?
U.S. N: 1042, U.K. N: 2026, GER N: 1002
United KingdomUnited States Germany
70%
68%
83%
THE FUTURE OF WORK: MORE THAN A MACHINE
SECTION 1: OFFICE WORKERS WANT AI AT WORK
11. 10
THE FUTURE OF WORK: MORE THAN A MACHINE
Section 2
WORKERS SAY TECHNOLOGY
WILL FREE THEM FROM
MENIAL TASKS
They don’t think machines will threaten their jobs
10
12. 11
Most office workers predict their
jobs will change in five years
Think Own Job Function Will Change In Next Five Years
Among U.S. Office Worker Total — Showing % Selecting
Q22. How much do you think your own job function or role will change in the next five years? (“Will change” combines responses for “a little bit” and “significantly.”)
U.S. N: 1042, U.K. N: 2026, GER N: 1002
Note: Data may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
Will change
87%
United
Kingdom 87% Germany 87%
10%
of U.S. office workers think their jobs
will not change in the next five years
U.K. (9%), Germany (12%)
3%
of U.S. office workers think their jobs
won't exist in the next five years
U.K. (4%), Germany (1%)
THE FUTURE OF WORK: MORE THAN A MACHINE
SECTION 2: WORKERS SAY TECHNOLOGY WILL FREE THEM FROM MENIAL TASKS
13. 12
Workers say human abilities will be needed
at work, as machines do most menial tasks
Do You Think Your Job in its Entirety Could Ever Be Carried Out by a Machine?
Among U.S., U.K., German Office Worker Total — Showing % Selecting
Percentage of Menial Office Tasks Done by
Technology in Next 20 Years
Among U.S. Office Worker Total — Mean Result
Q17. Do you think your job in its entirety could ever be completely carried out by a machine / technology?
U.S. N: 1042, U.K. N: 2026, GER N: 1002
1
YOY, "No" results up from 56% in U.S. and 60% in U.K. (2016 Work in Progress Study)
Note: Data may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
Q16. What percentage of menial office tasks do you think will be done by a machine /
technology in In 20 years?
U.S. N: 1042, U.K. N: 2026, GER N: 1002
2
YOY, up from 53% in U.S. and 53% in U.K. (2016 Work in Progress Study)
Yes, today Yes, but probably not for
at least another 20 years
No, my job requires
abilities and attributes that
only humans possess*
Yes, in the next
5 to 10 years
No, in my role, customers
prefer to interact with
people over machines
U.S., U.K., and German
office workers say
their job could not
be carried out by a
machine in its entirety.
% menial tasks done in 20 years2
United States
United Kingdom
Germany
9%
5%
5%
11%
12%
15%
14%
16%
20%
48%
41% 19%
45% 21%
20% 63%
60%
68%
66%
United
Kingdom 60%
Germany 56%
THE FUTURE OF WORK: MORE THAN A MACHINE
SECTION 2: WORKERS SAY TECHNOLOGY WILL FREE THEM FROM MENIAL TASKS
14. 13
Successful office workers will be better
collaborators and utility players
Most Successful Workers of the Future
Among U.S Office Worker Total — Showing % Selecting
Q21. Who do you think will be the most successful workers of the future?
1
YOY, up from 67% in U.S. and 66% in U.K. (2016 Work in Progress Study)
²YOY, up from 70% in U.S. and 68% in U.K. (2016 Work in Progress Study)
U.S. N: 1042, U.K. N: 2026, GER N: 1002
Better at collaboration
(vs. working alone)1
Able to do many different things
(vs. specializing in one area)²
79%
76%
United
Kingdom 79% United
Kingdom 73%Germany 80% Germany 56%
THE FUTURE OF WORK: MORE THAN A MACHINE
SECTION 2: WORKERS SAY TECHNOLOGY WILL FREE THEM FROM MENIAL TASKS
15. 14
In a technology-rich future, less than a third
of office workers feel very equipped to succeed
Extent Equipped to Succeed with Technology and Technical Skills
Among U.S., U.K., German Office Worker Total — Showing % Selecting
Q23. The future of work will likely involve more technology and require more technical skills. How well equipped do you feel to succeed in such an environment?
U.S. N: 1042, U.K. N: 2026, GER N: 1002
Very
equipped
United Kingdom
19%
49%
Moderately
equipped
32%
Slightly/not at all
equipped
Germany
Very
equipped
29%
46%
Moderately
equipped
25%
Slightly/not at all
equipped
United States
Very
equipped
30%
47%
Moderately
equipped
23%
Slightly/not at all
equipped
THE FUTURE OF WORK: MORE THAN A MACHINE
SECTION 2: WORKERS SAY TECHNOLOGY WILL FREE THEM FROM MENIAL TASKS
16. 15
Governments aren't effectively
preparing workers
National Governments' Effectiveness in Preparing Today’s Workforce for the Future
Among U.S., U.K., German Office Worker Total — Showing % Selecting
Somewhat
effective
Somewhat
effective
Somewhat
effective
Very effective Very effective Very effectiveNot at all
effective
Not at all
effective
Not at all
effective
Q27. How effective is your local, state/regional, and national government at preparing today’s workforce for the future?
U.S. N: 1042, U.K. N: 2026, GER N: 1002
say local government
is not at all effective.
say local government
is not at all effective.
say local government
is not at all effective.
say state/regional government
is not at all effective.
say state/regional government
is not at all effective.
say state/regional government
is not at all effective.
United Kingdom
14%
56%
30%
Germany
21%
57%
22%
United States
17%
52%
31%
28%
33%
22%
26%
30%
21%
THE FUTURE OF WORK: MORE THAN A MACHINE
SECTION 2: WORKERS SAY TECHNOLOGY WILL FREE THEM FROM MENIAL TASKS
17. 16
THE FUTURE OF WORK: MORE THAN A MACHINE
Section 3
ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS:
GERMANY
Germans’ work shapes their personal identity
16
18. 17
German office workers are
most likely to love their job
Feelings About Job
Among U.S., U.K., German Office Worker Total — Showing Top 2 Box
Q1. How do you feel about your job? (1 to 5 scale, with 1 meaning absolutely hate it and 5 meaning absolutely love it). Showing: 4-5 love it.
U.S. N: 1042, U.K. N: 2026, GER N: 1002
1
YOY, up from 70% in U.S. and down from 63%in U.K. (2016 Work in Progress Study)
Love their job1
76%
United
States 74% United
Kingdom 59%
THE FUTURE OF WORK: MORE THAN A MACHINE
SECTION 3: GERMANY
19. 18
Most German office workers would keep
working, even if they won the lottery
If You Won The Lottery…
Among German Office Worker Total — Showing % Selecting
88%
Of German office workers would continue
to work after winning the lottery.
81%
Of U.S. office workers would work
after winning the lottery.1
69%
Of U.K. office workers would
work after winning the lottery.1
Q4. If you won the lottery, would you...
U.S. N: 1042, U.K. N: 2026, GER N: 1002
1
Results for "would work" YOY, up from 80% in U.S. and 67% in U.K. (2016 Work in Progress Study)
Stop working
entirely
Pursue my
dream career
Continue doing the
job I currently have
but work fewer hours
Continue doing the
job I currently have in
the same capacity
12%
23%
42%
23%
THE FUTURE OF WORK: MORE THAN A MACHINE
SECTION 3: GERMANY
20. 19
A majority in Germany and the
U.S. are defined by work
Working Defines the Worker
Among U.S., U.K., German Office Worker Total — Showing Top 2 Box
Defines who I am1
Neither defines me nor doesn’t Doesn’t define who I am
United
States
United
States
United
States
United
Kingdom
United
Kingdom
United
Kingdom
Germany Germany Germany
Q3. How much do you feel your work defines who you are? (1 to 5 scale, with 1 meaning work doesn’t define who I am at all and 5 meaning it defines who I am completely)
Shown: 1-2 Doesn’t define who I am, 3 Neither defines me nor doesn’t, 4-5 Defines who I am
U.S. N: 1042, U.K. N: 2026, GER N: 1002
1
YOY, down from 57% in U.S. and 46% in U.K. (2016 Work in Progress Study)
52%
44%
54%
31%
30% 30%
17%
26%
15%
THE FUTURE OF WORK: MORE THAN A MACHINE
SECTION 3: GERMANY
21. 20
Access to technology is
the top workplace perk
Importance to Ideal Work Space1
Among German Office Worker Total — Showing % Selecting
State of the art
technology for my
work station
Access to food
and beverages
Personalized
work stations
Lounge and
relaxation areas
Beautiful
office design
Access to
on-site amenities
35%
26%
21%
15%
14%
12%
Q5. Of the following factors, which are the most important in creating your ideal physical work space? Please select up to two.
U.S. N: 1042, U.K. N: 2026, GER N: 1002
1
YOY similar results in U.S. and U.K (2016 Work in Progress Study)
United
States
United
Kingdom
37%
19%
18%
12%
14%
13%
27%
26%
12%
20%
18%
14%
THE FUTURE OF WORK: MORE THAN A MACHINE
SECTION 3: GERMANY