More than one in three employees worry that AI could make their jobs obsolete

Press release  
“Fear of Becoming Obsolete”: More than one in three employees worry that AI could make their jobs obsolete

• 35% of employees believe AI or automation could put the future of their role at risk. Among entry-level talent, this figure rises to almost half
• 76% feel pressure to continuously develop their skills
• 83% actively participated in professional development over the past year, with more than one in three focusing on the use of AI applications

Düsseldorf, 28 July 2026 – Artificial intelligence is transforming everyday working life and prompting many employees to question what role their skills will play in the future. According to Stepstone’s new Hiring Trends Update, more than one in three respondents (35%) worry that AI or automation could make their job obsolete. This concern, also known as “Fear of Becoming Obsolete” (FOBO), is accompanied by pressure to keep their professional skills up to date. Around three in four employees (76%) feel they need to continuously acquire new skills to remain employable.
Many employees are already responding to this development: 83% actively participated in professional development over the past year. Of these, 35% specifically focused on AI applications. For many, professional development has therefore become a strategy for securing their position in the labor market.
“FOBO describes a very real feeling in today’s labor market. Many people see AI and automation changing the nature of work and are asking themselves what role their own skills will play in the future,” says Dr. Christina Langer, Senior Economist at The Stepstone Group. “At the same time, the data reveals something very encouraging: employees are not simply waiting to see what happens. They are actively engaging with new requirements. This willingness to adapt represents a major opportunity for the labor market and is crucial to professional success in a time of transformation.”
FOBO particularly affects people starting their careers, requiring companies to take action
People starting their careers are experiencing the impact of AI acutely. Their fear of becoming obsolete because of AI or automation is more than twice as high as among managers. Almost half (49%) of people completing vocational training, internships or working student positions fear that they could be replaced in the medium term. Among managers, the figure is 22%.
However, employees need appropriate support from their employers to actively navigate this transformation. There is still considerable room for improvement: only 40% of employees say their employer offers meaningful opportunities to learn new skills. From the employer perspective, only around one in two HR professionals (52%) say their organization actively invests in training or reskilling to meet future business needs.
“AI must not become an excuse to write people off prematurely,” says Langer. “Employees recognize that change is happening, and many are ready to embrace it. Companies should make the most of this willingness to adapt. Businesses that primarily cut jobs in response to short-term cost pressure will exacerbate their own skills shortages in the long term. A better response is to empower employees through clear guidance, time to experiment and training that is directly connected to their everyday work.”
About the Hiring Trends Update  
The Hiring Trends Update 2026 survey is part of a study series published twice a year. This edition is based on a survey of 6,114 employees and 800 HR professionals in Germany, conducted between April 23 and May 6, 2026. The study examines the current state of the labor market from both perspectives, covering topics ranging from job searches and willingness to change jobs to application experiences, professional development, hiring processes and recruitment challenges. The candidate sample is representative of Germany’s working population in terms of age, gender and level of education. The data was collected by Stepstone’s labor market research team.
About Dr Christina Langer 
Dr Christina Langer is Senior Economist at The Stepstone Group, an economist and labour market researcher focusing on the future of work, generative AI and skills development. Alongside her role at Stepstone, she is an Economist at the ifo Institute and a Digital Fellow at the Stanford Digital Economy Lab, part of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI. Previously, she conducted research there as a Postdoctoral Researcher on the impact of artificial intelligence, new technologies and changing skill requirements on the labour market, companies and employees. Her work has been published internationally and has been featured by outlets including The New York Times. Throughout her media appearances, discussions and presentations, she combines scientific evidence with practical recommendations for companies, policymakers and the wider public.
About The Stepstone Group 
The Stepstone Group is a leading global digital recruitment platform that connects companies with the right talent and helps people find the right job. AI-driven job marketplaces and programmatic-powered marketing solutions connect more than 130 million job applications with about 70,000 customers every year. The Stepstone Group operates in more than 10 countries - including Stepstone in Germany, Appcast in the USA and Totaljobs in the UK. The company is headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany and employs about 3,000 people worldwide. For more information: www.thestepstonegroup.com/english
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