Workers with disability pioneering the use of AI

According to a new report, people with disabilities are pioneering the use of AI at work, with almost half using AI for problem solving.

New insights from Randstad’s Understanding of Talent Scarcity: AI and Equity report have revealed that people with disabilities are trailblazing the use of AI in the workplace. According to the report, workers with disabilities are leveraging technology as a tool to enhance workplace productivity, with 47 per cent doing so, compared to 36 per cent of their peers without disability.

“People with disabilities are among the most innovative adopters of AI, using it to solve problems and enhance their productivity,” said Madeline Hill, general manager of equity, diversity, and inclusion at Randstad.

Workers with disability strongly believe that the technology could further improve equity in the workplace, paving a way forward for more inclusivity (51 per cent). They are more than willing to work hard to achieve this, with 47 per cent going out of their way to seek AI training independently, compared to just 36 per cent of their peers without disability.

This rigorous training in an attempt to learn how to leverage AI in the workplace has fostered a connection to the technology, with 28 per cent saying they would consider leaving their job if AI upskilling opportunities aren’t provided, compared to 16 per cent of employees without disability.

“Employers must act swiftly to provide tailored, equitable support – not only to further unlock their potential but also to address continuing workforce shortages, particularly for this demographic,” said Hill.

According to Randstad, these findings send a very clear message to Australian businesses: “failing to provide sufficient equitable training opportunities will exacerbate talent scarcity”.

With the data showing that nearly three in 10 workers with a disability would leave their organisation if AI training wasn’t readily available, employers must be aware that without implementing such practices, they run the risk of losing these highly skilled workers – while simultaneously losing out on being able to recruit them.

“In a market which continues to be impacted by talent scarcity, ensuring equitable access to adequate AI upskilling and opportunities is not just a social imperative – it’s a strategic necessity,” said Hill.

The data also touched on the lack of awareness that still lingers throughout Aussie organisations. Just over half (52 per cent) of workers with disability call for better accessibility support in their workplaces. Adding on to this, one in five (23 per cent) don’t believe their employers have made reasonable adjustments to accommodate their disability.