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AI-driven job changes risk widening STEM skills gaps, survey claims

October 24, 2026

News

Physics & Engineering

AI, STEM careers, Talent retention

More than one in seven UK STEM professionals surveyed say colleagues have left their organisation in the past year because artificial intelligence changed their work beyond recognition, according to research commissioned by workforce consultancy SThree.

The survey of 885 UK STEM employees, conducted by YouGov between 10 July and 1 September 2026, found that 15% had seen colleagues leave for this reason. A further 14% reported departures linked to reduced career progression associated with AI, while 12% cited unsustainable workloads.

The findings point to concerns about how rapidly organisations are introducing new technologies and the effect on technical careers. More than a third of respondents (37%) believe their organisation is adopting technologies such as AI too quickly to consider fully how people’s roles will be affected.

Career pathways may also be changing, with 29% saying senior employees are taking on work previously performed by junior colleagues as AI reshapes entry-level roles.

The changes come against a backdrop of reported recruitment difficulties. Almost half of those surveyed (45%) said their organisation had struggled to replace specialist employees who left during the previous year.

Rakesh Patel, UK managing director at SThree, said employers needed to use AI in ways that allowed workers to apply their expertise meaningfully. He warned that businesses could be left with lasting skills gaps if experienced employees left faster than specialist knowledge could be replaced.

The survey suggests that AI adoption raises issues not only about productivity but also about training, career development and talent retention Findings, however, are based on employees’ reported experiences and perceptions but do not establish necessarily that AI was the direct cause of or that the pattern applies across the entire UK STEM workforce.