South African workers are adopting artificial intelligence (AI) tools at a faster rate than the global average, with multiple reports suggesting the technology is changing the skills required for their jobs and freeing up significant amounts of time each week.
According to the latest AI at Work report from Boston Consulting Group (BCG), 79% of frontline white-collar workers in South Africa are regular AI users, while the global average is 74%.
The survey also found that South Africa ranked second after India in the survey of time saved through the use of AI. Nearly 66% of frontline employees and 75% of managers and leaders reported saving at least one full working day per week through AI.
The findings are part of BCG's fourth annual AI at Work report, which is based on a survey of 11,749 workers across 14 markets, including 503 respondents in South Africa.
Skills and work roles are evolving
The report suggests that AI is affecting the nature of work rather than merely improving productivity.
Globally, 72% of respondents said AI has already replaced the skills required in their roles, while 47% reported that more time is spent managing and directing AI than completing tasks.
BCG said the findings point to a change in the way employees work, with AI increasingly becoming part of day-to-day workflow.
“The first wave of AI focused on individual productivity. The coming wave will require transforming collective work,” said Vincenne Beauchaine, managing director and partner at BCG and co-author of the report.
“Our survey reveals a true managerial revolution in the age of AI. Sixty-five percent of managers and leaders now believe agents will take over at least half of their jobs over the next three years, and frontline workers see their jobs evolving toward greater management and direction of AI.”
Organizational change has increased productivity compared to
While employees are reporting substantial time savings, the report found that many organizations have not yet established clear plans for how that time should be used.
Globally, 42% of regular frontline AI users said they save at least one full working day per week through AI, but 66% said they receive little or no guidance on how to use the time gained.
According to the report, organizations that redesign workflows around AI are more likely to achieve measurable business improvements, productivity gains, and higher employee satisfaction than organizations that focus solely on deploying AI tools.
South Africans report higher job satisfaction, less worry about job loss
The survey found that South African employees generally report positive experiences with AI.
Among frontline workers, 78% reported higher satisfaction than the global average of 57%, while 84% of managers and leaders reported higher satisfaction than the global average of 71%.
Concerns about job displacement were also lower than the global average. Nearly 20% of South African respondents expressed concern about losing their jobs due to AI, compared to 36% globally.
Davy Scholtz, managing director and partner and head of BCGX in South Africa, said the country's high adoption rate is already translating into measurable productivity gains.
“What stands out, however, is that this is already translating into real productivity gains, with many employees reporting significant time savings every week,” he said.
“The priority now is to build on this foundation with further investment in skills, and changing the structure of work so that these early gains translate into sustained business value.”