Employees from lower socio-economic backgrounds are receiving fewer opportunities to access and upskill in generative AI (Gen AI) compared to their more affluent peers, according to new research.
The study by Accenture, based on a survey of more than 1,000 executives and nearly 4,000 employees in the UK, shows a clear disparity in both access and usage of AI tools. Only 35% of workers from lower socio-economic backgrounds report having access to generative AI, compared with 45% of those from more privileged groups.
Even when access is equal, employees from lower socio-economic groups are using the tools less frequently. The report also found a strong correlation between educational attainment and access to digital training. Just 29% of workers with low educational qualifications had received any digital training in the past two years, compared to 52% of employees with higher education qualifications who receive digital training at least every six months.
The divide extends to attitudes towards upskilling. Only 6% of low-attainment workers plan to gain new skills in AI over the next year, while 29% of higher-education employees say they will pursue further AI training in that timeframe.
Digital Skills Gap Widens as Gen AI Expands
Accenture’s findings come as the UK faces a persistent digital skills gap. Currently, 8.5 million adults in the UK lack basic digital skills. The company warns that the growing uptake of generative AI could exacerbate this divide if training and access are not made more equitable.
Daljish Channa, Corporate Citizenship Lead at Accenture UK, said, “Gen AI poses a unique opportunity to improve people’s access to technology and new skills. As the technology is accessible through natural language, and being rolled out at pace across workforces, we are seeing people already benefiting directly from its output.
“However, there looks to be unbalanced access to the technology, and training to utilise it properly, which could end up widening the digital divide rather than closing it. To combat this, schools, governments and businesses must seize the moment to work together to ensure everyone has fundamental digital skills, as well as the confidence in using new and established technologies across the board.”
Regenerative AI Initiative Aims to Close the Gap
In response to these challenges, Accenture has launched a new initiative called Regenerative AI. The programme aims to support over one million people from socioeconomically disadvantaged communities across the UK in building AI skills over the next three years.
The initiative is part of Accenture’s broader approach to using AI not only to transform business operations but to address societal inequalities linked to technology access and digital education.
The findings reflect a growing concern that without targeted intervention, the benefits of generative AI could remain concentrated among already privileged groups, leaving others behind in an increasingly digital economy. The research reinforces the need for inclusive training programmes and cross-sector collaboration to ensure the future of work is accessible to all.
