The rise of AI is reshaping the workplace at an extraordinary pace, and employees are falling behind.

According to the 2025 EdAssist by Bright Horizons® Education Index, nearly half of U.S. workers expect AI to drastically change their roles within the next year. But only a fraction feel prepared for what lies ahead.

This year’s Education Index, based on a survey of more than 2,000 U.S. workers, reveals a clear and urgent message: skills gaps no longer belong to HR. It’s a critical risk that businesses can’t ignore.

Download the full report to explore how leading employers are turning education benefits into strategic workforce tools.

AI Is the Catalyst, But Skills Are the Real Story

The conversation around AI often focuses on the technology itself. The real question for employers isn’t what AI will do, but whether your workforce is ready to keep up with the skills changes.

Key findings from the 2025 report include:

• 42% of employees expect their role to change significantly due to AI in the next year.
• 34% feel unprepared for AI-driven changes.
• 32% say AI has increased pressure to learn new skills, up from 26% last year.
• Only 17% use AI frequently at work today, signaling slow adoption without employer-led support.

This shift is happening across age groups and industries, challenging the assumption that AI is only a concern for tech roles or younger workers. And it’s also happening much faster than expected, so employers need to respond now with accessible, adaptable, and inclusive upskilling strategies.

The New Workforce Expectations: Fast, Flexible, and Purpose-Driven

Amid these rising demands, employees are seeking clear career pathways, job-relevant learning, and education benefits that reduce financial burden. And they’re not waiting for permission.

The 2025 EdAssist by Bright Horizons® Education Index found that employees today are asking more from their employers and they’re clear about what they need:

• 81% report pressure to take on more work.
• 80% feel they must deliver results faster.
• 79% are struggling to keep pace with new technologies.
• Work/life balance and stress reduction now outrank salary increases as top motivators.

With these new workplace expectations, workers are gravitating toward faster, stackable, and debt-conscious learning pathways that align with their real-world constraints.

Skills Gaps Are a Business Risk

What does this mean for employers? That workforce education is no longer a “nice to have.” It's a business-critical investment, and employees are looking to employers to support their learning and career goals. 

The 2025 EdAssist by Bright Horizons® Education Index offers a blueprint for forward-looking companies. Here are some insights.

What Employers Must Do Now:

• Build accessible skill pathways through short-form, stackable credentials.
• Remove financial barriers with education benefits and student loan support (like EdAssist).
• Make learning practical that’s aligned to real jobs, and available to all employees.
• Promote your programs actively because employees can’t use what they don’t know exists.

Organizations that treat education as a strategic imperative see measurable returns such as stronger retention and loyalty. Upskilled employees can fill critical, hard-to-hire roles, which reduces recruiting costs and organizational risk with a future-ready workforce equipped to adapt as business needs evolve

Download the full report to explore the data and discover how leading organizations are building a workforce ready for what’s next.

Wake-Up Call: Is Your Workforce Ready for the Age of AI?

The 2025 Education Index highlights the truth that forward-thinking leaders already know: education benefits are no longer optional. A strategic program is critical for growth, retention, and competitiveness in an AI-driven world that’s changing the skills mandate faster than employees can keep up.

For companies with EdAssist in their benefits portfolio, the path forward is clear. Whether you're just getting started or looking to elevate your existing program, EdAssist can help you make education benefits a core part of your talent strategy.

Get in touch for a no-cost assessment to benchmark your program against top organizations.