Employees Ahead of Employers in AI Use: Dutch Survey

Employees in the Netherlands are moving faster than their employers when it comes to using artificial intelligence (AI). A new analysis published in the economic journal ESB shows that the share of workers who say they use AI applications such as ChatGPT or Copilot is higher in every sector than the share who say their employer actively supports that use.

What the ESB analysis reveals about workplace AI adoption

The gap between employee AI use and employer support is more than 15 percentage points in most industries, and rises to nearly 30 percentage points in government and education. That suggests many workers are adopting AI on their own initiative, while their organisations have yet to catch up with clear policies or encouragement.

The analysis published in ESB concludes that employees are often further along in applying artificial intelligence than their employers.

These findings echo wider conversations about AI skills training programs in European workplaces, where individual adoption often outpaces institutional strategy.

How Dutch workers use ChatGPT and Copilot

The analysis builds on a survey by De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) conducted in October of last year. The central bank asked working people about their AI use. Only 25 percent of employees said they experience active employer support for using AI at work. Other workers said they are allowed to use some AI tools but are not encouraged to do so, or that their employer has no clear policy at all.

Common applications include drafting emails, summarising documents, generating code and searching for information. Tools such as OpenAI's ChatGPT and Microsoft's Copilot have become part of daily routines for many employees, even where formal guidance is missing.

• ChatGPT: text generation, brainstorming and customer support drafts
• Microsoft Copilot: document summaries, spreadsheet analysis and meeting notes
• Other AI tools: image generation, translation and data classification

Employee AI use vs employer support

This bottom-up adoption is consistent with enterprise software adoption trends, where employees often bring new tools into the workplace before management does.

Why employers lag behind on AI policy

Several factors explain the gap. Many organisations lack dedicated AI governance, have not updated IT guidelines, or fear data privacy and compliance risks. The DNB survey indicates that most employers are passive: they neither forbid nor actively promote AI use.

As a result, workers operate in a grey zone. They may use unsanctioned tools, copy sensitive information into external platforms, or receive no training on how to evaluate AI output. This creates risks for both employees and employers.

Experts in corporate AI governance argue that clear policies, training and transparent rules are needed to close the gap between individual use and organisational readiness.

What this means for the future of work

The Netherlands is not alone. Across Europe, employees are adopting generative AI faster than many employers can adapt. The ESB analysis suggests that productivity gains from AI may be limited if companies do not provide support, integration and quality control.

If the pattern continues, workers who use AI informally may gain individual efficiency but miss out on coordinated benefits such as shared prompts, secure tools and consistent output standards. Employers that invest in training and governance could turn early employee enthusiasm into a durable competitive advantage.

FAQ

What percentage of Dutch employees get active AI support from their employer?

According to a De Nederlandsche Bank survey cited by ESB, only 25 percent of employees experience active employer support for AI use at work.

Which sectors show the largest gap in AI adoption?

Government and education show the largest gap, with the difference between employee AI use and employer support approaching 30 percentage points.

What AI tools are Dutch workers using most?

ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot are among the most commonly used AI applications, often for writing, summarising and searching information.

Why are employers slower than workers to adopt AI?

Many employers lack clear AI policies, fear data privacy and compliance risks, or have not updated IT guidelines, leaving workers to adopt tools informally.