The Rapid Rise of Generative AI: A Profound Impact on the Job Market
The rapid growth of generative artificial intelligence is profoundly changing the job market, particularly in intellectual professions. The translation industry, one of the first sectors to be heavily impacted, illustrates this transition: tools like DeepL or ChatGPT are reducing the demand for human translators, while the profession is being reconfigured around post-editing, a task that involves correcting machine-generated content, which is less lucrative and more constrained.
A Broader Impact on the Job Market
This shift is no longer limited to a single sector. Several large companies have already integrated AI into their cost-reduction strategies. Amazon has laid off 14,000 administrative positions, citing productivity gains from automation as the direct cause. IBM, Accenture, Salesforce, and Klarna have followed a similar logic, combining workforce rationalization with the adoption of AI in internal services (HR, marketing, customer service, etc.).
Limited but Growing Impact in Europe
While social plans remain limited in Europe, the signals are converging. According to a survey of executives in 13 countries, nearly half have already reduced their workforce due to AI, and more than half anticipate fewer hires in the next five years. This transformation is often happening without mass layoffs, but through recruitment freezes, non-replacement of departing employees, or reorganization of tasks.
Sectors Already Affected by Automation
Certain sectors, already automated before the arrival of generative AI, confirm this trend. Call centers are seeing a decrease in human interactions in favor of digital channels, while automated conversation analysis is starting to replace some management functions.
Young Graduates: The Most Vulnerable Group
Young graduates appear to be the most fragile group. Junior positions, historically based on analysis or content creation tasks, are among the most automatable. According to a Stanford University study, employment among 22-25 year olds in professions heavily exposed to AI has declined by 13% since 2022, and by 20% among developers.
The Challenge for Organizations
For organizations, the challenge is no longer just about eliminating jobs, but about rewriting professions. Most positions will not disappear completely, but their content will evolve, with a growing distinction between employees who can use AI as a productivity lever and those who will be gradually excluded. However, studies converge on the same finding: the transition has begun, but its real social effects will only be fully visible in the coming years.
By S.M
