Career starters
The data was collected through an online survey conducted among 748 young jobseekers aged 18 to 30 across 15 EU countries and the UK.
The sample included a balanced mix of educational backgrounds (vocational, tertiary, and postgraduate) and employment statuses (unemployed, in internships, or in early full-time roles). The survey was administered anonymously and consisted of multiple-choice questions exploring perceptions, expectations, and experiences related to AI in the workplace, ensuring comparable responses across all participating countries.
04
How is AI perceived by career starters and workers in Europe?
Based on the estimated responses from 748 young jobseekers across Europe, perceptions of artificial intelligence in the world of work appear to be cautiously optimistic but marked by uncertainty and uneven preparedness. A majority (around 56%) view AI’s overall impact on jobs positively, and nearly half (47%) believe it will personally boost their career prospects.
However, a significant minority still express concern: roughly one in five fear AI could harm their career, and another fifth remain unsure
This blend of optimism and apprehension suggests that while young Europeans recognize AI’s transformative potential, many still feel it could disrupt established career paths or amplify inequalities in the job market.
When it comes to readiness, only about half feel even “somewhat prepared” to work in an AI-enabled environment, and most admit their skills aren’t yet aligned with emerging AI-related demands.
Encouragingly, however, more than six in ten respondents say they are eager to receive AI training, showing strong interest in upskilling if the opportunity is made accessible. Yet trust in employers remains limited: nearly 60% express little or no confidence that AI will be used fairly in hiring or management decisions. Views on inclusion are also mixed: almost equal shares believe AI will either create or reduce opportunities for diverse or underserved groups.
Overall, the findings suggest a generation that sees AI as both a career enabler and a source of unease, with enthusiasm tempered by gaps in trust, skills, and clarity. Young jobseekers are not rejecting AI; rather, they are asking to be equipped, included, and treated fairly in the transition toward AI-driven work.
workers
The survey sample consisted of 584 workers currently employed in low- to medium-skilled occupations across 12 European Union member states and the UK.
Respondents represented a mix of sectors most exposed to early AI integration, such as finance, marketing, logistics, administration, software and more, and were drawn from both urban and regional labour markets. The majority held secondary or vocational education qualifications, with smaller proportions holding higher education degrees. The survey was conducted online and anonymously, capturing the perspectives of workers who are actively experiencing or anticipating the effects of AI on their day-to-day tasks and job stability.
Based on the responses from 584 workers across Europe, the data reveals a measured but pragmatic view of artificial intelligence among the existing workforce. Over half of respondents (51%) view AI’s impact on their industry positively, with nearly half (48%) believing it will make their own jobs easier. Yet, around one in five fear it could make their work harder or eventually edundant, and roughly one in three believe parts of their tasks could realistically be replaced by AI in the near future.
This duality reflects a workforce that recognises AI’s productivity gains but remains concerned about automation’s long-term implications.
A consistent theme across the results is uneven preparedness and limited employer support. Only 44% of respondents feel their employer is helping them adapt to AI-related changes, while the majority perceive little or no structured effort to guide this transition.
Nonetheless, the appetite for learning is strong: over half (58%) would eagerly take AI training if offered, suggesting a latent demand for accessible, practical reskilling opportunities.
Trust remains a delicate issue. Nearly 60% of respondents express little or no trust in AI systems making fair decisions in areas like recruitment or performance evaluation. At the same time, emotional responses to working alongside AI are relatively balanced: while 60% report feeling “excited” or “curious,” a notable 40% admit to feeling “cautious” or “worried.”
In sum, the European workforce appears neither technophobic nor blindly optimistic. Most workers recognise AI’s potential to enhance productivity and job quality, yet they are acutely aware of its disruptive capacity. The findings point to a need for greater employer engagement, structured reskilling pathways, and transparent communication about how AI will reshape tasks and roles.
"...I would be more interested in working for a company that uses AI tools in its operations. For me, a company that is open to tools that optimize work is more appealing than one that resists AI.”
Justyna Karpinska
Poland
WHAT THEY SAY
“...I see a significant impact of AI on both my work and my colleagues’ work. I have a positive attitude toward increasingly advanced and faster tools that improve coding efficiency and increase confidence that the produced code is optimized for performance.”
Ewa Piotrowicz
Poland
WHAT THEY SAY
“... [AI] is not neutral. It tends to amplify existing biases and penalizes those who do not fit previous patterns or who do not have access to training and tools. The way it works turns it into a factor of exclusion.”
Fran V. Hernández
Spain
WHAT THEY SAY
“... I’d rather work for a company that recognizes the increasingly central role that AI is playing globally and that seeks to understand how to integrate it efficiently and fairly, i.e., that sees it as a tool for improving and enhancing the work environment and the working conditions.”
Maria Zinutti
Italy
WHAT THEY SAY