Dalton Discovers How AI is Reshaping the Workforce Across Four Major Industries
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From classrooms to factories, AI continues to be integrated into the workforce across multiple industries. Dalton surveyed professionals in manufacturing, education, finance, and healthcare to understand how it’s changing the way we work today.
The Methodology:
To better understand the role of AI in the American workforce, Dalton surveyed 400 professionals across four key sectors: manufacturing, education, finance, and healthcare. We asked how AI is impacting their daily work, what tools they’re using, and whether they see disruption or opportunity ahead.
The Takeaways:
Manufacturing:
- 54% of respondents reported some level of AI impact in their field.
- Nearly half (47%) said AI has made them more efficient on the job.
“AI needs to be viewed as a tool—like a hammer used to build a house. It’s much easier to use a hammer and nails than alternative methods. Similarly, AI helps people accomplish tasks more effectively and efficiently. It’s a tool that enhances a person’s abilities and performance.”
⁃ Joaquin Ocampo, Product Manager, Bosch Rexroth
Finance:
- 94% of finance professionals say they’ve seen AI’s impact on the industry.
- Data privacy (36%) and technology dependence (39%) are the top concerns.
- GPT-based tools (49%) and AI writing assistants (43%) are the most-used tools in finance.
Education:
- 77% of educators said AI is already changing how they teach—and how students learn.
- 54% reported becoming more efficient thanks to AI.
“AI is a thought partner — someone who knows you, understands you, is able to work with you. It’s a new type of interface that lets you explore things faster. The gap between thought and creation is shrinking. Your limits are diminishing.”
— Fred Gilbert, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
Healthcare:
- Just over half (52%) have noticed AI’s influence in the field.
- 32% say they’re more efficient with AI, though many remain hands-off or skeptical.
- 54% say they’re not concerned about AI replacing them.
“Both leaders and employees should be learning about AI, experimenting with it, understanding its impact on your specific domain—that’s no longer optional. Organizations that invest in the AI literacy and adaptability of their people will be the ones that thrive in this new era. And those that don’t? They’ll struggle not because AI failed them, but because they failed to prepare their people for what AI makes possible.”
— Priya Iragavarapu, Vice President – Data Science and Analytics, AArete
Across sectors, one theme stands out: AI is no longer hypothetical. It’s here and reshaping workflows, enhancing efficiency, and sparking new conversations about the future of work.
Want to understand how your audience is navigating the change? Let’s talk.
