US workers say automation is raising safety expectations, but training lags

A new RS study finds 50% of U.S. employees say workplace safety expectations have tightened over the past year as automation spreads, while 22% of new-technology users got no training in that time. The findings point to a widening skills and confidence gap around AI and Industry 4.0 in manufacturing.

Why it matters: - Automation is changing day-to-day manufacturing work faster than many employees can adapt. - RS found that 50% of U.S. employees say workplace safety expectations have become stricter over the past 12 months. - Training gaps are leaving workers less confident with new tools and more anxious about job security. - 77% of respondents see AI as a threat to their job. - Only 20% feel confident using AI at work to improve output.

What happened: - RS, a global product and service solutions provider for industrial customers, surveyed U.S. manufacturing employees nationwide on automation, AI and other Industry 4.0 technologies. - 86% of respondents said they are using new technologies. - 22% of employees using new technology said they had not received training in the past 12 months. - RS said the survey was designed to measure how automation, AI and related tools are affecting safety expectations, skills development and employee confidence.

The details: - Employees identified AI or machine-assisted tools knowledge as the biggest skills gap at 26%. - Soft skills such as communication and team leadership followed at 25%. - Data analytics and digital literacy came in at 24%. - Technical troubleshooting ranked at 23%. - Safety or compliance skills tied to automation ranked at 21%. - Workers said the biggest barriers to upskilling were cost of training at 17%, lack of available training at 15% and no time during work hours at 14%. - Training not available in their area or shift was a barrier for 11%. - Lack of manager support was a barrier for 10%. - Only 20% of employees said they see AI in the workplace as a good thing. - That compares with 25% in RS’s 2025 AI in the workplace study. - In the 2025 study, 72% of employees said they saw AI as a threat to their job, compared with 77% in the latest research. - Confidence has also fallen, with 23% saying they felt confident using AI at work in 2025 versus 20% now.

Between the lines: - The results suggest the problem is not just attitude toward technology. - Employees appear to face practical limits around time, cost and access to training. - The mix of technical and human-skill gaps suggests companies need broader training than software instruction alone. - The data also shows AI acceptance is improving only slowly, even as workplace use rises.

What’s next: - RS says closing the skills gap will be critical for successful technology adoption, productivity, safety and employee confidence. - Karen Gavenda, director of revenue operations at RS Americas, said businesses need practical, accessible training embedded in daily work. - Gavenda said employees should be able to work more safely and spend less time on repetitive tasks. - Gavenda also said the best AI adoption happens when organizations let people experiment responsibly, share what they learn and scale the ideas that have the greatest impact. - More information is available in the full report.

The bottom line: - Automation is raising the bar for safety and skills, but many U.S. workers are still being asked to adapt without enough training.