While more than eight in ten young people in Belgium are familiar with and have used artificial intelligence, less than a third are using the technology in a professional context.
This is according to the latest annual survey by the Federation of Belgian Companies (FEB), in collaboration with iVox, that polls young people and employers on a range of topics.
Conducted since 2019, this year's survey places focus on the place of artificial intelligence in the professional world. It notes that while the majority of young people know and use AI, the degree to which they use it at work is limited.
Some 85% of young people surveyed are familiar with at least one AI application, and 84% have already used one. Those aged between 18 and 23 are more likely (88%) to have used an AI application than those aged between 24 and 28 (76%).
Use of AI for private life, work and studies
The survey highlights that among those who use AI, 68% use it in their private life, while only 29% have used in their professional life.
At the same time, young people are increasingly using AI for their studies. Some 62% of young respondents had already used AI during their studies, with a big disparity between those aged 24 to 28 (40%) and the younger 18 to 23 cohort (73%).
Despite younger people increasingly taking advantage of AI applications during their studies, there is not a corresponding rise in the share of young people using AI at work. Just three out of ten young people say they use AI for professional purposes, breaking down into 41% of those aged between 24 and 28, and 23% of 18 to 23 year olds.
Meanwhile, among employers, 97% say they are aware of AI and 81% say they have already used it in a professional context.
"Although AI is known and used by young people, its adoption in the professional world remains insufficient," said Pieter Timmermans, CEO of the FEB.
Mismatch between training and employment
The report noted a "mismatch" between training and employment, as 35% of young people said their school education did not adequately prepare them for the job market, (although an improvement from 44% last year).
Meanwhile, 72% of employers said young people did not arrive sufficiently equipped for the professional world.
"This mismatch between the skills taught at school and those required on the job market highlights the urgency of rethinking the training of young people, in order to better prepare them for digital transformations and employers' expectations. This is why the FEB is strongly committed to actions such as YTIA, where entrepreneurs and young people strengthen each other," said Timmermans.
Some 800 young people aged 17 to 28 and 112 employers were surveyed for the study.
