Entry-level workers are rapidly adopting AI tools – but the technology is exposing some divides between those confidently using AI and those not yet there.

A report from Generation, which draws on the AI experience of 5,500 entry-level workers, most without a college degree, across a range of industries and 17 economies, offers a fresh perspective on how AI is impacting workers.

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 Use AI More 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.

Multiple Uses

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.

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Perceived Value Differs

Despite uneven uptake, most users are seeing clear benefits, with 94% reporting that AI has improved their ability to do their job – including 63% who say it helped a lot. Perhaps even more striking: 91% say AI has made their work more enjoyable, with 59% reporting a significant increase in job satisfaction.

However, the perceived value of AI varies across countries. In upper-middle-income countries, 70% of entry-level workers say AI has greatly improved their job performance – compared to 64% in lower-middle-income countries and 49% in high-income countries. Similar trends hold for enjoyment: employees in emerging economies are more likely to say AI has made their work more fulfilling.

Barriers to Adoption

While adoption is strong overall, 35% of entry-level employees surveyed are not yet using AI at work. Among this group, 72% say they’re interested – but face barriers including a lack of training (30%), uncertainty about how AI applies to their role (30%), and not having enough time to learn (12%). Only a small share cite trust issues or a lack of clear benefit.

“AI is reshaping the workplace — and across our thousands of alumni, most of whom do not have a college degree, we see entry-level employees are charging ahead, using tools to learn faster, work smarter, and enjoy their jobs more,” Dr. Mona Mourshed, Founding Global CEO of Generation, said.

“We need to ensure every worker, in every sector, has the access and support to begin harnessing the power of AI in their roles.”