A recent report shows that nearly 30 percent of workers in Europe and North America fear layoffs due to the rise of AI. The majority of workers see no harm in it, but do expect at least one of their tasks to be automated.
More than a quarter of workers in Europe and North America fear that AI will make their jobs obsolete. In the Benelux, however, only a small majority expect AI to affect their current job.
Fears about impact of AI on job security
The report by IDC and Unit4 shows that 28 percent of workers in Europe and North America fear being fired by AI. This survey was conducted to analyze the human impact of AI in the workplace. Although many people fear that AI could take over their jobs, a larger group believes that AI will affect their daily work in the future.
In the Benelux region, there is slightly less concern about direct effects on job security. About 55 percent of workers in the region expect AI to affect their job in some way. 78 percent think AI will automate at least one of their tasks within two years.
Use of generative AI on the rise
Although AI tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini are increasingly used worldwide, their use in the Benelux region is still relatively low at 42 percent. These employees are currently using generative AI to simplify repetitive tasks or are considering it in the near future. The reluctance in the Benelux may indicate a critical attitude toward AI.
Critical attitude toward AI in work experience
One benefit of AI is that it improves the work experience by automating repetitive tasks. This gives employees more time for more valuable work. In the Benelux, however, people are skeptical of this benefit. Only 37 percent of employees believe their work experience improves with further automation. Claus Jepsen, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Unit4, emphasizes that AI has a major impact on working methods. She believes companies should carefully consider exactly what they want to achieve with AI.
He argues that AI can complement, but cannot completely replace human thinking and action. Unit4 therefore chooses to deploy AI pragmatically, taking human engagement into account. This, according to the company, is important to support employees and maintain trust in AI.
The results of the IDC report give an indication that AI will bring profound but gradual change to the work environment.
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