Half of U.S. Managers Use AI for Key Employee Decisions, Survey Finds
About 50% of managers in the United States rely on artificial intelligence to make decisions affecting employees, including promotions, raises, and terminations. This insight comes from a recent survey of 1,342 U.S.-based managers conducted by Resume Builder.
The online poll, held on June 24, 2025, targeted managers earning at least $75,000 annually, aged 25 and older, with at least an associate degree, and working in companies with more than 11 employees.
AI Adoption Among Managers
The survey revealed that approximately 65% of managers use AI tools in their work. Nearly all of those (94%) apply AI to evaluate employee performance. The most frequently used AI platform is ChatGPT, favored by 53% of AI users, followed by Microsoft Copilot (29%) and Google Gemini (16%). Other AI tools make up 3% of usage.
How Managers Use AI in People Management
- Creating training materials: 97%
- Developing employee growth plans: 94%
- Evaluating performance: 91%
- Determining raises: 78%
- Deciding on promotions: 77%
- Making layoff decisions: 66%
- Handling terminations: 64%
Notably, 20% of managers admit they often let AI make final decisions without human input, raising questions about oversight.
Ethical Considerations and Training Gaps
Despite widespread AI use, nearly two-thirds (68%) of managers have never received formal training on the ethical use of AI in managing people. Only about one-third have undergone such training.
Stacie Haller, chief career advisor at Resume Builder, highlights the benefits companies seek in AI — improved efficiency, faster decision-making, and cost reduction. However, she stresses the need for thoughtful implementation and maintaining human oversight to prevent legal issues and maintain employee trust.
AI Replacing Employees
Almost half of the managers responsible for assessing AI’s impact on staffing believe AI can replace human roles. Furthermore, 43% have already used AI technology to replace employees in their organizations.
For managers looking to strengthen their AI skills and ensure responsible use of these tools, exploring specialized AI training can be valuable. Platforms like Complete AI Training offer courses that cover practical AI applications in management.
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