Meike Escherich
Meike Escherich (Associate Research Director, European Future of Work)

As automation reshapes the contemporary workplace, companies across Europe are facing both technical and cultural hurdles. While there is a strong emphasis on the potential job losses linked to automating routine tasks, it’s equally vital for organizations to re-evaluate their current roles, work methods, and traditional leadership models. This shift is essential for fully leveraging the benefits of AI and promoting long-term innovation, rather than just improving short-term business efficiency.

The following three trends show what the AI-driven work environment in Europe might look like in 2025 and beyond:

1. The need for new leadership models
2. The emergence of new jobs and skills
3. The evolution of work itself

Farewell to Command and Control

By 2026, European organizations that rely exclusively on command-and-control leadership models will see a 20% drop in profitability due to a lack of AI innovation and adaptability.

European leaders are significantly increasing their investments in artificial intelligence, with 88% actively involved in either rolling out or testing generative AI (GenAI) projects in 2024 (source: IDC’s Future Enterprise Resiliency & Spending Survey [Wave 10], October 2024). Successful organizations highlight the importance of providing their teams with AI training and opportunities for practical experience to enhance adoption rates. However, in 2024, 53% of European decision-makers reported that their employees are somewhat to extremely worried about potential job disruptions and losses due to a lack of AI skills (source: IDC’s Future Enterprise Resiliency & Spending Survey [Wave 11], November 2024).

To integrate AI into their business DNA, organizations need to cultivate a culture of innovation that invites input from every level of the workforce. A rigid top-down management approach will stifle creativity and leave employees feeling disconnected. Companies that are stuck in outdated command-and-control structures find it challenging to keep pace with rapid changes, resulting in isolated decision-making that can hinder effective collaboration across departments and potentially lead to a profit decline of about 20%.

Instead, to promote successful AI innovation, businesses must encourage experimentation and embrace new working methods for all staff, not just leadership. By adopting agile and inclusive strategies for AI implementation, companies can benefit from quicker development cycles, improved customer service, and better employee retention. Ideally, this can be achieved through a balanced approach that combines both bottom-up and top-down strategies for AI deployment.

New Skills and Roles

By 2030, due to evolving skills demand, 70% of new job roles in Europe will be directly enabled by AI.

And the transformation won’t stop at just leadership styles. The integration of AI is set to transform roles across all levels of the workforce, with 70% of new positions being directly influenced by AI technology. As highlighted in the IDC’s EMEA Employee Experience Survey, 2024, 63% of European workers anticipate that parts of their jobs will be automated in the next two years. This change will require the acquisition of new technical skills to leverage AI effectively, alongside the development of essential business and interpersonal skills.

For example, new graduates are now moving away from dull, low-skill jobs and instead expect to interact with AI technologies like assistants and advisors. For midcareer professionals and managers, using AI-enabled applications means collaborating more across different departments and overseeing employee skills and career development with a focus on the future of traditional roles. Meanwhile, top executives will benefit from precise and instant access to various performance data and predictive analytics.

Not Just a Tool, But a New Way of Working

By 2027, agentic workflows will reshape how tasks are delivered and performed, impacting at least 40% of knowledge work in European companies and doubling productivity.

However, AI should be viewed not just as a powerful productivity tool (doubling productivity for knowledge workers), but as a driving force for a completely transformed approach to work.

In 2025, companies will explore the world of AI agents and autonomous workflows to improve tasks that have traditionally depended on human skills. Key software and AI service providers will be essential in this shift by adding innovative AI features. The rise of low-code platforms aimed at creating AI agents and workflows will motivate IT leaders in different industries to adopt these advancements, collaborating with business process management (BPM) teams to identify processes that are ready for automation or enhancement.

To realize substantial gains in productivity, it’s vital to extend agentic workflows beyond standard business functions. This should encompass areas such as planning, research, decision-making, content creation, software development, IT setup, performance monitoring, and other specialized activities, as well as collaborative project work. As organizations in Europe navigate this transformation, a comprehensive evaluation of AI agents and agentic workflows will be essential. Achieving success will also hinge on addressing current cultural challenges while leveraging this technology to enhance human capabilities and streamline knowledge work across various sectors.

Wrap-Up

In conclusion, the three work culture trends highlight a shared focus on the relationship between technology and human behavior. While science fiction often portrays a bleak future dominated by AI, IDC presents a more optimistic viewpoint. However, it’s important to acknowledge that apprehensions surrounding emerging technologies like GenAI can greatly influence their acceptance, whether in a positive or negative light.

Organizational leaders must invest time and resources into thoughtfully planning the integration of AI and GenAI technologies, as well as the new roles and workflows they bring. This challenge goes beyond mere technical aspects such as computing, security, hardware, infrastructure, and integration. At its core, it is a challenge centered on people, necessitating a commitment to empowering employees through skill development and the establishment of innovative, redefined career paths.

To learn more about the impact of automation and AI on the future of work in Europe, please access the following resources:

• Webcast: Help Your Customers Deliver Human-First Experiences in the AI-Everywhere Future of Work

• Blog: 8 Future of Work Trends for 2024

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