AI will significantly reduce workforce headcounts in next five years, according to survey of 2,000 large companies

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already reshaping the global workforce, according to a recent survey by Adecco. The survey reveals that AI could lead to a significant reduction in workforce numbers over the next five years. This finding underscores the profound impact AI is expected to have on the workplace.

 

The survey, conducted among senior executives at 2,000 large companies worldwide, found that 41% of respondents anticipate having smaller workforces due to the implementation of AI technology. This trend is not limited to any specific sector or region, with businesses across various industries and countries sharing similar expectations.

 

Generative AI, capable of creating text, photos, and videos in response to open-ended prompts, is seen as both a potential eliminator of repetitive tasks and a possible cause of job obsolescence. Tech giants like Google and Microsoft have already begun to shift their focus towards AI systems, resulting in a wave of layoffs.

 

However, it’s not all doom and gloom. The Adecco survey echoes a 2023 World Economic Forum study, which suggested that while 25% of companies expected AI to trigger job losses, 50% anticipated the technology would create new roles. Adecco CEO Denis Machuel believes that the impact of AI on jobs will be balanced, with the digital world creating as many jobs as it destroys.

 

Despite the industry-changing potential of AI, most senior executives surveyed admitted they have not made enough progress in adopting the technology. This highlights the need for companies to prepare for the AI revolution by training their staff to work with AI, rather than relying solely on recruiting specialists from outside.

 

How prepared are we for the changes that AI will bring to our workplaces? We’d love to hear your thoughts on this.

 

 

Read more:

• https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/05/business/ai-job-losses/index.html
• https://www.reuters.com/technology/ai-seen-cutting-worker-numbers-survey-by-staffing-company-adecco-shows-2024-04-05/
• https://www.verdict.co.uk/ai-could-decrease-hiring-in-the-next-five-years-adecco-survey

 

Image: Arsenii Palivoda | Dreamstime.com