Amid rising concerns over AI’s impact on employment, three in 10 companies report they replaced workers with AI this year, according to a survey released Aug. 13 by ResumeTemplates.com.

The poll of business leaders found that 90% of their companies currently use AI, with the top applications being data analysis, research and content creation.

Among those using AI, 53% say it makes their workforce much more productive, and 37% say it slightly increases productivity. Conversely, 7% report minimal productivity gains, 2% see no improvement and another 2% are unsure about the impact.

The survey noted that among those who see productivity gains, 67% expect workers leveraging AI to complete significantly more work or a lot more work each week.

ResumeTemplates’ chief career strategist Julia Toothacre noted that AI technology is advancing quickly, and one of the main selling points is efficiency.

“There are many AI programs out there that supplement or do the work of positions that don’t require significant human interaction,” Toothacre said in a press release. “While AI programs still need at least one person to prompt and/or provide data, this technology can enable companies to consolidate positions.”

The study also found 38% of companies that will use AI in 2025 will replace workers with the technology next year. Among business leaders at companies that plan to use AI in 2025, 17% indicate they definitely expect layoffs as a result of AI, while 21% think layoffs are probable. On the other hand, 31% believe layoffs are unlikely, and 23% are certain there will be no layoffs. About 8% are unsure.

Meanwhile, 87% of business leaders who are hiring in 2025 say AI experience is beneficial for job seekers, and two-thirds of the business leaders surveyed expect workers using AI to be much more productive.

“While AI can definitely improve efficiency, employers need to be cautious about how much additional work their employees can truly take on,” Toothacre said. “This is a learning period for everyone as companies adopt AI and implement it into daily productivity. I suggest employers give workers the freedom to explore right now before demanding more from them. Workers should be the ones to communicate how much more they can handle.”

The survey includes responses from 984 US business leaders aged over 25 with a household income of at least $75,000, an education level above high school and those working at companies with more than 10 employees. It took place in August.