AI in European Workplaces: Insights from SD Worx and ISACA’s 2025 Surveys

Quick Facts: AI in European Workplaces (2025)

• 38% of European companies invest in AI for workplace processes (SD Worx).
• 83% of IT & business professionals believe AI is being used by employees in their organization (ISACA).
• Only 31% of organizations have a formal AI policy (ISACA).
• 56% report productivity gains from AI; 71% cite efficiency improvements (ISACA).
• 42% need to upskill in AI within 6 months; 89% within 2 years (ISACA).
• Just 28% of organizations provide AI training for all employees (ISACA).

Introduction

AI adoption in European workplaces continues to grow steadily. According to SD Worx’s February 2025 survey, 38% of companies are now investing in AI to support workplace processes, up from 33% in 2024, and another four in ten companies are actively exploring how to use AI in the workplace. However, with only 31% already seeing concrete results in their HR processes, many organizations clearly remain in the experimental stage. We can expect these numbers to grow significantly by the end of 2025.

Survey Overview: SD Worx

This survey offers a comprehensive view of current workplace trends:

• Respondents: 5,625 HR managers and 16,000 employees.
• Countries covered: 16 across Europe: Belgium, Germany, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Croatia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
• Top areas of investment: Learning and development (19%), performance management using predictive analytics (18%), recruitment processes such as automated CV screening (18%), HR support chatbots (18%), and compliance systems (16%).
• Challenges: 11% of HR professionals cite AI implementation as one of their top five HR challenges for 2025 (up from 8% in 2024).
• Perceived impact: Only 31% of organizations say they already see concrete results from AI in HR.
• Uncertainty: 53% remain unclear about what AI means for HR roles, 37% fear losing the human touch, 35% feel they lack expertise, and 34% express concerns over data privacy and security.

Enriching the Picture: ISACA’s 2025 AI Pulse Poll

To complement SD Worx’s findings, ISACA’s AI Pulse Poll, published on June 25, 2025, adds a governance and readiness perspective across Europe.

Key findings from European respondents:

• Fieldwork: Conducted between 28 March and 14 April 2025, among 561 business and IT professionals in Europe.
• 83% of IT and business professionals consider it likely that employees in their organization are using AI.
• Only 31% say their organization has a formal, comprehensive AI policy.
• 56% indicate AI has already improved productivity, and 71% note efficiency gains.
• 63% express serious concern about malicious AI use (e.g., deepfakes), while only 18% say their organization has invested in detection or countermeasures.
• 42% believe they will need to enhance their AI skills within six months, rising to 89% within two years.
• Only 28% report that their organization offers AI training to all employees.

These insights reveal a stark gap between AI adoption and formal governance, underscoring the need for clear policies, employee upskilling, and a more strategic, integrated approach.

Closing Thought: Making AI a True HR Partner

As we can see from the SD Worx survey, AI in HR is progressing but still in an early stage for many organizations. Complementing this, ISACA’s findings highlight broader gaps in AI governance and readiness across European workplaces. While investment is increasing, uncertainty remains a key barrier. Understanding where AI delivers real value will be essential for organizations moving from experimentation to effective integration. Don’t be discouraged by these numbers—you’re still among the early adopters exploring this topic.

Benefits of taking this approach:

• You have the opportunity to build understanding and readiness before AI becomes fully embedded in recruitment workflows.
• Taking action now ensures your organization is prepared for regulatory and operational changes ahead.

Practical next steps:

1. Engage your ATS provider: Ask directly about their AI strategy, especially around generative AI. Review the built-in features you already have, such as resume parsing or automated ranking, and evaluate whether they deliver real value before considering external tools or new investments.
2. Prioritize integration over replacement: When adding new AI tools, choose those that connect to your existing systems to enhance workflows without disrupting established processes.

By asking informed questions now—about your tools, training needs, and policy readiness—you position your team to turn AI trials into real results. As adoption grows across Europe, you’ll lead with strategy, not reaction.