1 in 5 Dublin workers believe AI will impact or replace their jobs

The debate surrounding artificial intelligence has picked up steam over the last 18 months, and a survey carried out by recruiter FRS Recruitment has found that 1 in 5 workers surveyed in Dublin believe that AI will either impact or replace their jobs in the future.

19% of those surveyed in Dublin believed that AI will have some impact on their employment, which is below the national average of 26%.

Recent lay-offs in the tech sector has brought the notion of AI impacting or replacing humans in the work place to the forefront, following a recent wave of layoffs at the Dublin offices of Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter, Google, and Revolut.

The anxiety in the jobs sphere is reflected in the survey’s findings, with 33% of people in Dublin fear for their job security in general, and 31% of those surveyed saying they would consider a pay cut if their job was at risk.

The cost of living crisis was also explored in the survey, with the headline findings from the research showing that 1 in 4 of those surveyed saying they are more willing to work in the office as a way of reducing their personal electricity and heating costs.

The cost of living has also affected the employment market in Dublin, with 63% of employers saying it has impacted on their recruitment outlook.

A return to office has been hotly debated in the media in recent weeks, with census findings from 2022 showing that a third of workers in Ireland were working from home.

Since Covid-19 era restrictions have lifted, 29% of employers in Dublin have been pressing their employees to spend more time in the office this year according to the survey.

Speaking about the survey, Lynne McCormack, General Manager of FRS Recruitment said, “This survey provides a wide-ranging picture of the main trends across the employment market in Dublin and around the rest of the country. It shows how a number of issues are impacting the local market, from technology to cost of living and from job security to salary concerns.

“The data highlights the role cost of living concerns are playing in recruitment in Dublin and how this is putting pressure on salary expectations. A majority of people in Dublin expect to receive a wage increase in the next 12 months, which is important information for employers.”