Artificial intelligence is proving to be a powerful tool in boosting workplace efficiency, with employees saving around an hour each day, according to a recent report from The Adecco Group. The survey, which gathered insights from 35,000 workers across 27 global markets, highlights the early benefits of AI, particularly the time savings it offers.
The report reveals that the average employee saves about 60 minutes per day through AI tools, with 21% of respondents reporting a time savings of between 45 and 60 minutes, and another 20% saving between one and two hours daily. By sector, workers in energy, utilities, and clean technology reported the highest gains, saving up to 75 minutes each day. Other sectors also saw significant time savings, including:
- Tech sector: 66 minutes per day
- Manufacturing: 62 minutes per day
- Financial services: 57 minutes per day
- Aerospace and defense: 52 minutes per day
Denis Machuel, CEO of The Adecco Group, emphasized the significance of these early results. “The impact of AI on the workplace has been widely debated, so it’s exciting to witness these initial signs of enhanced efficiency,” he stated.
Using extra time to enhance quality and creativity
With an additional hour in their workday, employees are channeling the extra time into meaningful activities. The report noted that 73% of workers who use AI feel more productive, using the extra time to check work accuracy (29%) and engage in creative tasks (28%). “The time saved is making a real difference, with impacts across multiple industries. While this is just the beginning, AI is showing clear potential to enhance workplace productivity,” Machuel added.
The Adecco Group’s findings align with other studies suggesting that the majority of companies utilizing generative AI (GenAI) are seeing rapid returns on investment. However, some leaders remain cautious, with previous reports from Gartner forecasting that 30% of GenAI projects could be abandoned by 2025 due to development and implementation challenges.
