Sweden and the Nordics risk losing ground in the adoption and practical use of artificial intelligence. That is the conclusion of the EY global Work Reimagined Survey 2025, which gathered responses from 15,000 employees and 1,500 employers across 29 countries.
The study highlights clear gaps in both access to AI-related skills and how the technology is applied day to day. Compared with the global average, Sweden and the broader Nordic region lag noticeably behind.
Limited AI training in Sweden and the Nordics
In Sweden, 60 percent of employees report receiving less than four hours of AI training, while only 13 percent have had more than 40 hours of formal instruction. Figures in the Nordic countries are similar: 54 percent report under four hours of training and roughly 20 percent report more than 40 hours.
These findings indicate that many organizations remain in the early stages of building structured AI skills development programs.
Usage below the global average
The gap is even more pronounced when looking at actual AI usage. Globally, nine out of ten employees say they use AI in some form. In Sweden, that share is 76 percent. Only 40 percent use AI daily or weekly, significantly lower than the global average of 65 percent.
This suggests AI has not yet been fully integrated into everyday workflows across many Swedish and Nordic organizations.
Building AI capability requires more than training
The survey shows employees who received more than 40 hours of AI training save, on average, ten hours per week. Those who received minimal training save about three hours on average. Yet the data also make clear that training alone does not automatically create lasting value.
As AI evolves rapidly, continuous hands-on application, experimentation and daily learning are essential to develop real, sustainable competence.
“One-off courses are no longer sufficient. To keep pace with development, employees need ongoing opportunities to apply and refine their new skills in everyday work,” says Cecilia Althin, Partner in People Consulting at EY.
Talent moves on when AI skills aren’t put to use
The study also finds that employees who invest time learning AI but don’t get to use that knowledge in their roles are more likely to leave their employers. This trend is strongest among those who have received the most training.
Retention therefore depends not only on access to training, but on whether organizations enable practical, day-to-day use of AI skills.
AI is mainly used for simpler tasks
Despite rapid technological progress, AI in many organizations is still primarily used for relatively basic tasks such as summarization, simple analysis, information search and text editing.
More advanced applications—automating complex processes, integrating AI into core operations and supporting data-driven decision-making—have not yet seen broad adoption in Sweden and the Nordics. That widens the gap between AI’s potential and its actual impact on business.
“We are approaching a point where AI will no longer be a competitive advantage but a basic requirement. If development outpaces our ability to learn, we risk standing still while the world moves forward. Companies that think a single AI course is enough underestimate how quickly the gap grows between basic use and real value creation,” says Cecilia Althin.