ADP study finds AI is changing employee engagement, retention

A new study by ADP Research found that employees who use AI on a daily or near-daily basis report the highest levels of “engagement, motivation and commitment to their work.”

The study noted that more than half of workers surveyed use AI on a regular basis, with 20% stating AI is an essential component of their jobs. Forty-two percent use it rarely or never at all.

Data from more than 30,000 U.S. respondents also found that of those using AI daily, 30% are “actively looking or interviewing for a new job.” 

The correlation between high motivation and low connection in the workplace is most common in men under 40. Nearly 1 in 3 men under 40 use AI daily at work. 

“Thirty percent of daily users are actively job hunting—more than double the rate of those who’ve never used AI,” notes the study. 

READ: New survey reveals nearly 40% of Canadian employees are feeling burnt out

ADP Research found that workers in people-facing fields tend to use AI less frequently. Of those surveyed working in the agriculture sector, 39% reported using AI every day. Fifteen percent of workers in the retail/ wholesale trade reported using it nearly everyday. 

Statistics Canada reports that Canadian businesses doubled AI usage in 2025. 

“Given generative AI’s nascency, workers probably still are experimenting with it and how to integrate AI into their workflow. As AI takes on repetitive work, some people might find their checklist of tasks growing shorter. Without a box to check, it might be more difficult for these workers to quantify their own productivity,” notes the study. 

The study notes the barriers to AI include a lack of formal training or development, a feeling of lesser ownership over work and less uncertainty about its outcomes.