The AI-Ready Workforce Framework: A Practical Guide for HR and L&D Teams
As AI becomes embedded in everyday work, HR and L&D teams are under pressure to ensure their people are not just aware of AI but ready for it.
Yet “AI readiness” can feel vague. Does it mean using ChatGPT? Learning Python? Becoming a prompt engineer?
The truth is not every employee needs the same AI skills. Some will use AI occasionally, some will apply it daily, and a few will build the systems others rely on. That’s why we created the AI-Ready Workforce Framework, a practical tool to help organizations build targeted, scalable AI upskilling programs.
What Is the AI-Ready Workforce Framework?
The AI-Ready Workforce Framework helps organizations segment their employees by how they engage with AI and map the right skills to the right groups. It consists of two connected elements:
1. AI Personas
AI persaons for AI upskilling
Personas define how different employees interact with AI based on their roles, behaviors, and comfort level. We use four:
Explorer – Just starting. Curious and learning the basics.
Adopter – Actively using AI tools in their work.
Advancer – Customizes AI tools and helps others apply them. Builds solutions with no-code platforms.
Builder – Technical roles that develop, fine-tune, or integrate AI systems.
This framework helps organizations understand how different employees engage with AI in practice so they can design targeted learning experiences based on behavior, not just job titles.
2. AI Skills Mapping
AI skill mapping
AI skills refer to the knowledge, capabilities, and behaviors individuals need to use, evaluate, or build AI systems effectively in their roles. Once you identify the core AI skills that support your organization's AI goals, you can map them to AI personas. For example:
Explorers need foundational AI literacy and ethical awareness.
Adopters need strong prompting and tool usage skills.
Advancers benefit from workflow integration and no-code tool creation.
Builders need deeper skills in data, model management, and system design.
By mapping these skills to personas, you can build tailored learning journeys that meet people where they are and guide them toward the AI skills that are most relevant for their work.
Why This Framework Matters Now
Only 31% of employees say their employer currently offers training on how to use AI tools. Yet over 50% of employees are using AI at work. AI training is critical to ensuring your workforce understands how to adapt to AI.
The AI-Ready Workforce Framework helps you:
Target training efforts based on real needs
Align learning with business functions and roles
Support both technical and non-technical employees
Track progress and adoption over time
This approach ensures that you’re not just checking the AI box — you’re building a workforce that’s confident, capable, and positioned to thrive in the age of AI.
How to Use the Framework in Practice
Assess your workforce.
Use surveys or manager assessments to identify how people currently use AI and assign personas.Define your core AI skills.
Identify the foundational and role-specific skills that support your organization’s goals.Map skills to personas.
Use a skills matrix to align learning content, formats, and depth by persona.Design role-appropriate learning paths.
Create modular, scalable training experiences that reflect how different people engage with AI.Track progress over time.
Monitor changes in usage, confidence, and skill level by persona or team.
Upskilling for AI is an ongoing effort
AI readiness isn’t a single training session, it’s an ongoing capability you build over time. The AI-Ready Workforce Framework gives HR and L&D professionals the structure to start strong and scale AI training strategically.
Upskilling your employees for AI isn’t about turning everyone into AI experts. It’s about giving every employee the right tools, confidence, and understanding to work effectively in an AI-powered workplace.
Need help applying the AI-Ready Workforce Framework in your organization?
Send us a note to take our free course for HR and L&D professionals.