In Switzerland, company decisions, cost pressures, and artificial intelligence affect employees more than geopolitical upheavals, reveals a study by the DemoScope Institute published on Friday. People under 30 are more concerned than those over 55.
One in four people is worried about their job, and one in ten believes it is very likely that they will lose their job in the next twelve months, according to a statement by the employee association Angestellte Schweiz, which commissioned DemoScope for this study.
According to the results, the main reason for this insecurity is not the global political situation, but rather the “strategic decisions of companies and the economic situation.” Artificial intelligence and the digital revolution were also frequently mentioned.
Nearly 30% of the respondents have recently experienced reorganizations, 26% have faced layoffs, and 17% have encountered a hiring freeze. Additionally, 24% of employees have been faced with the integration of AI into their work by 2025.
Young People are the Most Concerned
The study shows that insecurity is more widespread among young people between 15 and 30 years old.
“This surprised us, as there is often talk of high unemployment rates among those over 50. Studies show that it is increasingly difficult for young graduates to enter the job market (…) Positions involving less responsibilities, like internships, are often the first to be replaced by artificial intelligence,” analyzes Laure Fasel, communication manager at Angestellte Schweiz, as quoted in the statement.
Continuous Training as a Solution
Around 80% of respondents consider continuous training as a rather to very relevant measure to combat insecurity. Almost two-thirds mention professional retraining as a relevant solution. Among those not worried about their job, 42% indicate that their sense of security stems from the fact that their work is not replaceable by AI.
The DemoScope study was conducted among 1000 people. It is worth noting that a large majority of respondents (about 75%) currently feel rather or very insecure about their jobs.
[Context: The study by DemoScope revealed significant concerns among Swiss employees about job security, mainly due to company decisions and economic factors as opposed to geopolitical issues.]
[Fact Check: The study was commissioned by the employee association Angestellte Schweiz and conducted by the DemoScope Institute. It highlights the challenges faced by workers, especially young individuals, in light of technological advancements like artificial intelligence.]
