Study: Majority of people in Germany expect job cuts due to AI
**The majority of people in Germany believe that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will soon lead to fewer labor forces being needed. According to the consulting firm EY in Stuttgart, 59 percent of them fear job losses, but only a few expect significant impact on their own profession. Europe-wide, 68 percent of people have concerns about the effects of AI on the labor market.
In Germany, one third of the interviewees expect to come into contact with AI in their work within the next three years. A quarter of them have already gained some experience. However, 44 percent of those surveyed by EY believe they will have no or only minor effects from the technology in their jobs. Every eighth person, however, expects "significant impacts".
Many employees therefore believe they will not be affected by changes through AI. "This is a fallacy that partly also stems from fear of the consequences of the AI transformation," explained Holger Fehlbier from EY. Companies are now being asked to offer their employees opportunities for AI qualification and to address any fears through "open communication".
According to the study, German companies lag behind other European countries in this regard. While 45 percent of European companies have already successfully implemented AI applications and thus saved costs and increased profits, the percentage in Germany is only 34 percent.
Fehlbier, however, expects the technology to spread rapidly in companies. The handling of Artificial Intelligence will therefore soon become the norm. In order not to lose touch, companies "definitely need to stay on the ball".
The consulting firm surveyed approximately 4700 employees and employees in nine European countries, about 1000 of whom were in Germany. 29 percent of the interviewees held leadership positions.
- Despite the majority of people in Germany believing in job losses due to AI, a significant portion of them believe they will be minimally affected in their own professions.
- In the study, it was found that while many German employees believe in normality with AI in their work, their companies are lagging behind other European counterparts in implementing AI applications.
- As AI interaction becomes more prevalent in the workplace, companies in Germany need to stay proactive by offering qualification opportunities and addressing employee fears to avoid being left behind.
- The dismantling of the fear of AI's impact on labor might be crucial, as ki (people) in the majority believe that AI's integration will be a part of German society's normality in the near future.
