Major Workforce Shifts in Ireland as AI Reshapes Employment

Microsoft Ireland released the findings of its 2026 Work Trend Index on 10 September 2026, surveying 1,000 nationally representative adults based in Ireland, including frontline employees and knowledge workers in casual and part-time work.

The data paints a picture of significant workforce turbulence: nearly half (48%) of Irish workers surveyed changed employers in the last 12 months, up from 38% in 2025. This mobility is partly driven by career recalculation—47% of Irish professionals said AI is making them seriously reconsider their career path, up from 34% in 2025.

Optimism Meets Skills Anxiety

Irish workers remain broadly positive about AI’s potential. 76% of survey participants believe AI offers Ireland a major economic opportunity, and almost two-thirds believe AI skills are critical when competing in the wider jobs market. 61% believe developing AI skills will support career progression.

However, anxiety is evident. Almost 60% of Irish respondents fear falling behind if they are too slow to adapt to AI. The concern is concrete enough that 13% are considering changing their employer if there is insufficient access to advanced AI tools.

AI Use Rising Rapidly—But Training Lags

AI use at work among Irish survey respondents has risen to 63%. 57% of workers can identify where AI agents could help in their role, and 48% are already using AI agents regularly.

Yet employers are not keeping pace with employee needs. Only 40% of Irish respondents feel they have had enough AI training or guidance from their employer. Fewer than half agreed that their employer provides the tools and resources they need for AI.

Workers Report Quality Gains, But Leadership Disconnect

89% of Irish respondents said AI has improved the quality of their work. 65% said they treat AI output as a starting point while remaining responsible for the final work.

Still, trust in leadership on AI appears strained. More than half (51%) of Irish respondents say leadership is out of touch with employees on AI. Fewer than half say their manager actively uses AI, encourages AI adoption, or supports experimentation.

Parallel Research Reveals Education-Driven Divide

A separate Working in Ireland Survey 2025, administered to 4,300 workers in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, found that almost a third of employees now use AI at work. However, the survey found that employers rather than staff are capturing most of the productivity benefits from increased AI use in the workplace.

Crucially, AI adoption is strongly divided by education, occupation, gender, earnings and firm size. Workers with postgraduate degrees are up to 15 times more likely to use AI at work than those with basic educational qualifications.

Source: Silicon Republic