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Young Workers Are the Most Anxious About AI and Jobs, Randstad Survey Finds
3 min read Four in five workers say AI will impact their daily tasks, with Gen Z the most concerned, Randstad finds. Job postings for “AI agent” skills have surged 1,587%, highlighting automation replacing low-complexity roles. Nearly half of workers worry AI benefits companies more than employees, exposing a growing confidence gap with leadership. January 20, 2026 12:54
AI anxiety is hitting young workers hard. A Randstad Workmonitor survey shows four in five employees expect AI to change their day-to-day tasks, with Gen Z leading the concern. The culprit? Chatbots, automation, and AI agents quietly creeping into workplaces across industries.
The data shows why: job postings requiring AI agent skills have jumped 1,587% in the past year. AI isn’t just augmenting work—it’s starting to replace transactional, low-complexity roles that once served as entry points for younger employees. That means for Gen Z, the future of work isn’t just about learning new skills; it’s about keeping a foothold in a market that’s evolving faster than education and training can catch up.
Workers’ worry is compounded by a corporate-employee confidence gap. While 95% of employers forecast growth, only 51% of employees feel the same optimism. And nearly half believe AI benefits the company more than the workforce, suggesting the next wave of automation could widen inequality inside organizations rather than shrink it.
The bigger picture:
AI is reshaping opportunity and risk simultaneously. It’s creating high-demand roles at the top of the skills ladder while hollowing out predictable, low-complexity work at the bottom. For younger generations, staying relevant isn’t just about mastering AI—it’s about navigating a labor market where technology and talent are increasingly misaligned.
This is more than just workplace anxiety; it’s a structural shift in the future of work, and Gen Z is at the frontline.
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