BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming business, creating excitement and anxiety about the future of work. While some fear AI will replace jobs, others see it as a tool for greater productivity and creating new career opportunities. Two recent reports, however, paint contrasting pictures of how AI is perceived in Ireland — particularly among young adults and working professionals.
A study conducted by Chadwicks Group, Ireland’s leading builders’ merchants, reveals that six out of 10 (61%) young adults aged 16 to 24 are worried about AI’s impact on job opportunities. An even higher number, 75%, say they would prefer to pursue careers that AI cannot easily replace, such as medicine, teaching, and skilled trades like construction.
Parents share their concerns. Almost three in four (73%) parents would prefer their children to pursue careers deemed ‘AI-proof’, with 48% highlighting skilled trades as a secure option. Their worries extend beyond employment availability; 22% fear AI will hold back young people’s ability to generate original ideas, while 18% believe it will stifle creativity.
Chadwicks Group CEO Patrick Atkinson believes this anxiety presents an opportunity to promote skilled trades as a viable, secure career path. “Tradespeople are the backbone of our economy, building the homes, schools, and infrastructure that our society depends on,” he said.
While young adults and their parents express significant concern, another study, conducted by marketing services group Core, suggests that the majority (60%) of workers in Ireland are not worried about AI replacing their jobs. This apparent contradiction highlights differences in AI literacy and perception across age groups.
The Core report, titled ‘Is Ireland Ready for AI?’, found that 58% of Irish adults had little or no understanding of AI, with younger people (18–35) being the most informed. Among this group, 37% claim to understand AI “a fair amount”, while 22% say they know “a great deal”, which may explain why younger adults are also more apprehensive about its impact on jobs.
Lisa Dunn, director at Core and author of the report, believes that older generations’ relative lack of AI knowledge contributes to their lower levels of concern. “It could be a lack of understanding or complacency as they near retirement and feel AI will not affect them,” she noted.
Both reports agree that repetitive and task-oriented roles are most vulnerable to AI-driven automation. According to Core’s research, industries such as customer service, data entry, and some technical roles are already using AI. Chatbots and automated assistants have become common in customer service, and companies are increasingly adopting AI for greater efficiency.
However, when it comes to professions “requiring critical thinking, human interaction, and ethical judgment”, AI is not seen as a major threat. The Core report states that only 15% of people believe AI will replace journalism, and only 6% think it could take over medical roles.
Despite concerns, AI is not universally viewed as a negative force. Among those who claim to have a “fair understanding” of AI, optimism about its future rises to 38%, compared to 36% who remain pessimistic suggesting that greater awareness and education about AI’s capabilities and limitations could help alleviate some concerns.
AI is here to stay, and individuals, businesses, and policymakers must adapt accordingly. Young people, need to develop skills that complement AI, rather than compete with it. Schools and universities can play a vital role by integrating AI education into curricula, ensuring that students understand both its risks and opportunities.
Businesses, too, rather than seeing AI as a job eliminator, should focus on reskilling employees and introduce AI to enhance productivity. The Government could also help by providing training programmes and policies that protect workers while embracing technological advancement.
The coming years will determine whether AI becomes a threat, or an opportunity and that decision lies in how we choose to prepare for it today.
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