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64% of Workers Say Their Workloads Grew — AI Is Adding Pressure, Not Always Productivity

New research from EY finds 64% of employees globally say their workload rose over the past year. While AI isn't shown to directly increase task volume, it contributes to pressure through skill uncertainty, poor integration, and insufficient training. The survey — of 15,000 workers and 1,500 employers across 29 countries — also found 88% use AI at work but only ~5% are advanced users; EY estimates organizations miss about 40% of potential AI productivity gains. EY recommends pairing AI tools with stronger training, culture, and reward systems to unlock real benefits.

09:03 PM, 11/21/2025Economy

Employees worldwide report feeling significantly busier: a large EY survey of 15,000 workers and 1,500 employers across 29 countries found that 64% of employees believe their workload has increased over the past 12 months.

Kim Billeter, EY's global leader for people consulting, says AI is not clearly driving higher task volume, but it is intensifying anxiety and urgency for many workers. Concerns about skill erosion, limited training, and uncertainty over how tools will affect roles are creating a sense of pressure to keep up.

"That mix of pressure, uncertainty, and fear of falling behind has left many feeling stretched thin," Billeter said, noting employees are often expected to learn new skills while delivering existing responsibilities.

EY's Work Reimagined Survey points to several contributing factors beyond AI:

  • Economic pressure: A "do more with less" mindset means fewer people handling more tasks.
  • Role complexity: Organizations shifting to skill-based models are asking employees to learn continuously while managing current workloads.
  • Poor tool integration and weak training: These can create temporary spikes in workload as staff struggle to make systems useful.

Practical impacts of AI use emerged in the survey: 88% of respondents said they use AI at work, but most use it for basic tasks like search and document summarization. Only about 5% qualify as advanced users who combine tools strategically and use AI as a thought partner. EY estimates many organizations are leaving roughly 40% of possible AI-driven productivity gains untapped.

One emerging workplace frustration is so-called "workslop": AI-generated outputs that look polished but lack substance, forcing human colleagues to verify or redo content and thereby increasing workload. This feeds into the broader "productivity paradox," where tool adoption does not automatically translate into improved outcomes.

What companies can do

Billeter and EY emphasize that technology investments must be paired with people-focused actions. EY outlines five interrelated elements — the "Talent Advantage" — that companies should combine with AI deployment: AI adoption excellence, continuous learning, talent health, supportive organizational culture, and reward structures. Together, these help ensure AI complements human work rather than adding friction.

Addressing rising workloads will require clearer strategies for integrating AI, targeted training that builds useful skills, and organizational changes that reduce role overload. With the right approach, businesses can capture more of AI's potential while easing pressure on employees.

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