A recent international investigation highlights a notable difference in generational perspectives concerning artificial intelligence's role in professional environments. Younger individuals, especially those belonging to Gen Z, are voicing considerable anxiety about how AI will influence their employment stability and career progression. Conversely, the Baby Boomer generation demonstrates greater confidence and less worry regarding AI's effects. This generational divergence underscores the evolving nature of the workforce and the inherent complexities of adopting advanced technological solutions.
The study, conducted by Randstad and drawing insights from 27,000 employees, 1,225 employers, and over 3 million job vacancies across 35 nations, indicates that approximately 80% of the global workforce anticipates AI will reshape their daily professional duties. There's been a dramatic surge of 1,587% in job postings seeking individuals with 'AI agent' competencies, suggesting a rapid integration of automated systems and chatbots into direct operational roles. Randstad's CEO, Sander van 't Noordende, noted that while employees generally embrace AI, they also harbor skepticism, suspecting that businesses prioritize cost reduction and efficiency gains through these new tools.
The research further elaborates that Gen Z is the demographic most apprehensive about AI, whereas Baby Boomers are the least troubled and most confident in their capacity to adjust. This trend aligns with findings from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, which indicate that younger, less-skilled workers are disproportionately employed in roles highly susceptible to automation, with about 27% of positions in developed economies potentially facing such changes. Almost half of the survey participants believe that corporations will reap more benefits from AI than their workforce. This sentiment persists even as 95% of employers project business expansion for the current year, a stark contrast to the 51% of workers who share this optimistic outlook. Previous analyses have shown that companies are increasingly deploying AI for routine customer service automation, rather than outright job elimination, leaving many employees uncertain about their long-term employment prospects.
This widespread unease is set against a backdrop of a cooling job market. In the year 2025, the U.S. economy saw the creation of approximately 584,000 new positions, marking the slowest growth outside of an economic downturn since 2003. Earlier reports suggested that Gen Z might be entering a 'post-AI job market,' facing a more challenging hiring landscape even before advanced automation becomes fully prevalent. Experts and financial observers have cautioned that younger professionals will need to cultivate enhanced skills and adaptability to thrive in the forthcoming AI-dominated era.
The prevailing sentiment among the younger workforce is one of anxiety regarding the integration of artificial intelligence, contrasting sharply with the more assured stance of their older colleagues. This generational divide in perception emphasizes the critical need for strategies that address career resilience and adaptation in an increasingly automated world. It highlights the urgent requirement for ongoing skill development and educational initiatives to ensure a smoother transition for all generations into future job markets shaped by AI advancements.