Gen Z Most Worried as AI Reshapes Work, Randstad Finds
Nearly four in five workers expect AI to change their jobs, but confidence varies sharply by age.
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Nearly four in five employees worldwide believe artificial intelligence will reshape their day-to-day work as companies expand the use of chatbots, automation, and AI agents, according to a new survey by Randstad.
The findings come from the global recruitment firm’s annual Workmonitor report, which surveyed about 27,000 workers and 1,225 employers and analysed more than 3 million job postings across 35 markets.
The survey shows a sharp disconnect between the speed at which AI is entering the workplace and how prepared workers feel to absorb its impact.
Gen Z, in particular, emerged as the most worried cohort, even as employers double down on automation to boost productivity and cut costs.
By contrast, Baby Boomers were the least worried, the report found.
The survey also shows how quickly the labour market is pivoting. Job vacancies requiring “AI agent” skills have surged a staggering 1,587%, as automation increasingly replaces low-complexity and transactional roles.
The timing is awkward for workers. Labor markets are already under strain as companies announce job cuts amid slowing consumer sentiment and geopolitical uncertainty, including renewed trade tensions under US President Donald Trump.
Against that backdrop, firms are moving faster to automate roles, even as many are still waiting for clear returns from heavy AI investments.
“What we generally see amongst employees is that they are enthusiastic about AI,” Randstad CEO Sander van ’t Noordende told Reuters. “But they may also be sceptical in the sense that companies want what companies always want: they want to save costs and increase efficiency.”
That scepticism shows up in the numbers.
Nearly half of workers believe AI will benefit companies more than employees. There is also a sharp optimism gap between management and staff: about 95% of employers expect business growth this year, compared with just 51% of employees.
Together, the findings highlight a growing trust deficit as AI moves from future promise to an everyday workplace reality, raising questions about who ultimately gains as the next phase of automation takes hold.
