Concerns are mounting regarding potential job displacement due to the increasing integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within various sectors, according to Yasmin Fahimi, Chair of the German Confederation of Trade Unions (DGB). Speaking to business magazine Capital, Fahimi highlighted emerging risks, particularly within the IT sector, where AI is already jeopardizing employment on a significant scale. Surveys conducted among business leaders reinforce these anxieties, indicating anticipated workforce reductions in the future.
Despite these concerns, Fahimi maintains her previous statement from 2023, asserting that digitalization and AI will not ultimately eliminate work. Instead, the focus should shift to understanding how job roles are evolving, the quality of future work and whether employees retain sufficient autonomy or risk witnessing a simplification of their tasks. This evolution is generating uncertainty within businesses, she noted.
Fahimi expressed hope that AI can be leveraged to enhance job roles and address existing skill shortages by strategically automating tasks. The DGB’s explicit position is to embrace AI, but emphasize the need for its implementation to be organized in close collaboration with employees. This necessitates exploring novel approaches and expanding employee co-determination processes.
Fahimi also cautioned that the adoption rate of AI amongst businesses remains insufficiently swift. She warned against passively accepting the changes, advocating for a proactive and forward-thinking approach. Failure to act decisively risks consequences extending beyond individual job losses, potentially impacting the viability of entire enterprises.
The DGB Chair argued strongly against utilizing AI primarily as a cost-cutting measure. The focus, she emphasized, should instead be directed towards fostering innovation and developing more creative business models. This, she believes, represents the substantial opportunity presented by AI.
