Employer perspectives on AI in SMEs: policy insights for productivity and sustainable careers
Tony Fang, Jennifer A. HarrisonPurpose
This practitioner insights paper draws on employer perspectives to examine the challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and to develop policy insights to enhance productivity and support sustainable careers.
Design/methodology/approach
Policy insights are derived from a survey of 1,700 business owners, executives and senior managers, with particular attention to SMEs operating in Atlantic Canada.
Findings
Employers associated AI with productivity and efficiency gains, although adoption remained patchy across firms and regions. Many reported uncertainties regarding future skill needs, emphasized compliance training and viewed AI primarily as a productivity tool.
Practical implications
Policymakers and multiple actors across the sustainable career ecosystem can support SME productivity by strengthening digital capabilities, workforce planning systems and regional skills ecosystems. Such efforts may help ensure that AI adoption contributes to both productivity and sustainable career outcomes.
Originality/value
This paper offers rare employer perspectives on the intersection of AI, productivity and sustainable careers to inform policy.