German agency predicts 800,000 AI-related job losses over 15 years
The head of Germany's Federal Employment Agency forecasts significant structural shifts in the labor market due to artificial intelligence. She argues that while service and analytical roles will decline, new opportunities will emerge if investment focuses on productivity.
Andrea Nahles, head of the German Federal Employment Agency, predicts that artificial intelligence will eliminate approximately 800,000 jobs in Germany over the next 15 years. These losses are expected to concentrate primarily in the service sector and in analytical roles within the insurance and banking industries. Nahles noted that a similar number of new jobs will be created in other areas, offsetting the structural decline in specific sectors. Despite the projected displacement, she called for increased investment in AI within Germany. Nahles emphasized that such investments must be driven by tangible productivity gains rather than trendiness. She argued that while AI will disrupt the labor market, it will also create new opportunities, and Germany should invest in the technology to ensure it captures the associated economic benefits.