The findings reveal a clash between rapid technological change and mixed expectations about job security and the equity of AI benefits.

There is a perceived gap between employer and worker sentiment: about 95% of employers expect growth this year, while only about half of workers share that optimism.

Nearly half of workers fear AI will benefit corporations more than the workforce initially.

Most employers remain optimistic about growth for the year, contrasted with only about half of workers who share that view.

Four in five workers expect AI to affect their daily tasks, with Gen Z most concerned.

Randstad's Workmonitor survey, covering 27,000 workers, 1,225 employers, and over 3 million job postings across 35 markets, shows rising demand for AI-related skills and automation.

Workers say AI and automation are replacing low-complexity, transactional roles, even as enthusiasm for AI coexists with concerns about cost savings and efficiency pressures from employers.

Job vacancies requiring AI agent skills have surged dramatically, signaling a shift toward AI-centric roles and potential displacement of routine tasks.

Gen Z shows the highest anxiety about AI, while Baby Boomers are more confident in adapting to AI changes.

A global Randstad survey finds rising anxiety about AI at work, driven by chatbot use and automation, with nearly 80% expecting AI to influence daily tasks.

The report places these findings in the context of broader labour-market pressures, consumer sentiment shifts, and geopolitical tensions, with automation rising despite uncertain AI investment returns.

Amid global economic uncertainty and cost-cutting pressures, AI adoption contributes to concerns about job security and how the gains from AI will be distributed.