(Finance) – About one workers in Lombardy out of three (31%) do not feel secure in their job, and fears that a new economic crisis and economic slowdown could lead to layoffs in his company. 16% think the use of AI will become the norm in their industry in the next five years, reducing manual tasks. The survey says so ADP Research Institute’s People at Work 2023conducted on over 32,000 workers in 17 countries (2 thousand in Italy).
Overall, the survey continues, 58.8% of Lombardy workers think that no profession will be immune from the current economic uncertainty. In this context, 19.6% have considered changing sectors in the last 12 months and 15.5% have thought about starting their own business. 8% of over 55s have thought about asking for early retirement.
Also at a national level, the situation is complex. According to the survey, more than one worker in three (34%) does not feel secure in their jobor: fears that a new economic crisis and economic slowdown could lead to layoffs in your company. Contrary to what one might think, fears are greater in men (38%) and lower in women (30%). Feelings of precariousness are highest in the 35-44 age group (37%), followed by generation Z, i.e. those aged from 18 to 24 with 36%, from 24 to 34 34% are fearful, while from 45 at 54 years old 33%; only 26% of over 55s are worried about their job.
“Times are difficult, it is normal for workers to feel worried about their jobs, fearing the loss of their jobs for economic reasons but also with the introduction of artificial intelligence, which presumably could replace some tasks. Companies should do more to reassure their employees, showing them that their efforts are recognized and that career prospects are real. It’s not necessarily true that job cuts at one company mean others will follow suit or that automation, artificial intelligence and machine learning are things to be afraid of. They could actually make people’s jobs easier or more satisfying in the future. It is worth employers talking to workers now, to address misconceptions and allay unnecessary concerns,” he comments Marcela UribeGeneral Manager ADP Southern Europe.
According to INPS data, in 2022, economic layoffs increased by 41% on the year. However, it should be remembered that economic layoffs were blocked by the regulations introduced in 2020 in response to the pandemic event and that they were reopened starting from June and October 2021. However, if compared to the 2019 figure, in 2022 there were approximately 127,000 fewer layoffs (-25%). Furthermore, in the first half of 2023 there was a strong reduction compared to 2022 in economic dismissals (-18%) while terminations due to consensual termination increased slightly (+3%).
“By making staff feel more comfortable and safe, by highlighting what training and career progression prospects might be on offer, employees will feel better able to focus on doing a good job without worrying about the future. And if employers job they can do all this while making sure to offer a fair pay and an inclusive and engaging workplace culture, workers are likely to feel much more positive about the company they work for. But if companies are unable to make workers feel comfortable, they run the risk that vital skills, experience and enthusiasm may be lost, which could make it difficult to provide the level of service that customers expect.” , concludes Uribe.