AI is transforming Irish workplaces through task evolution, not job loss, study finds.
Artificial Intelligence is reshaping how work is carried out across Ireland, with workers increasingly using AI tools to support tasks and workflows rather than experiencing widespread job displacement, according to new research commissioned by Technology Ireland DIGITAL Skillnet.
The Right-Sizing AI at Work: Workforce Transformation and Human-Machine Partnerships in Ireland study was conducted by the Centre for Sociology of Humans and Machines (SOHAM), a joint research centre at Trinity College Dublin and Technological University Dublin. The report was launched at Workday’s Dublin headquarters.
The findings suggest that the organisations gaining the greatest value from AI are those embedding the technology into business processes, investing in workforce skills and developing effective human-machine partnerships.
AI lessons for workplaces
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is AI replacing jobs in Ireland? | The study finds AI is primarily transforming tasks and workflows rather than replacing jobs. |
| How many Irish workers use AI daily? | 47.4% of workers surveyed use AI tools daily. |
| Are Irish workers confident using AI? | 64.7% describe themselves as confident or very confident using AI tools. |
| How prepared are workers for AI-enabled workplaces? | 69% feel prepared to adapt their skills to work alongside AI. |
| What is the biggest AI challenge for Irish businesses? | Moving from fragmented AI adoption to effective human-machine partnerships. |
| What creates value from AI in organisations? | Integrating AI into workflows, workforce development and business processes. |
| Why is AI important for Ireland? | It is considered a major driver of future competitiveness, innovation and economic growth. |
| What skills are needed in an AI-enabled workplace? | Human judgement, verification, coordination, oversight and AI literacy. |
| What does the report recommend for employers? | Invest in practical training, governance, leadership and workforce capability. |
| Who conducted the AI workplace study? | SOHAM, a joint centre of Trinity College Dublin and Technological University Dublin. |
Impact of AI
The study found that AI’s influence is being felt most strongly at task and workflow level. As AI tools become more widely used, employees are increasingly expected to review, verify, coordinate and apply judgement to AI-generated outputs.
Mark Jordan, chief executive of Skillnet Ireland, said: “Artificial Intelligence represents one of the most significant opportunities for Ireland’s future competitiveness, but as this research shows, its value will ultimately be determined by how we prepare people and organisations to harness it effectively.
“Through our industry-led approach, Skillnet Ireland is working with enterprise to equip the workforce with the practical skills and confidence needed to thrive in an AI-enabled economy and support Ireland’s ambition to be a global leader in talent, innovation and digital transformation.”
The research arrives as businesses across Ireland continue to explore how AI can improve efficiency, productivity and decision-making.
Una Fitzpatrick, director of Technology Ireland, said: “Businesses across Ireland are increasingly embracing AI to streamline processes, improve decision-making and free up their people to spend more time on strategic priorities.
“To maximise these benefits, organisations are investing in workforce capability, leadership, governance and practical skills development. The findings highlight the importance of continued collaboration between enterprise, Government and the education and training sector to ensure Ireland has the talent and capabilities needed to succeed in the AI era.”
The study found that AI use has already become a regular part of working life for many employees. Almost half of respondents, 47.4%, said they use AI tools daily in their role, while 57.1% reported that AI is used by many professionals in their field.
Confidence levels were also high. Some 64.7% of workers described themselves as confident or very confident using AI tools, while 69% said they feel prepared to adapt their skills to work alongside AI.
At the same time, workers do not appear to view AI as indispensable. More than two-fifths of respondents, 40.9%, said they have no dependency on AI tools, and 41.5% do not believe AI could replace significant parts of their job in the future.
According to Máire Hunt, director of Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet, organisations must focus on implementation as well as adoption.
“One of the clearest messages from this research is that using AI and generating real business value from AI are two very different things. The organisations seeing the greatest benefit are those investing in the skills, capabilities and ways of working needed to embed AI effectively into real business processes,” Hunt said.
“We commissioned this research to give employers a robust evidence base for those decisions and to ensure the programmes we develop with industry remain practical, relevant and aligned to the challenges businesses are facing today.”
Confidence gap
While respondents generally expressed confidence in their ability to use AI, researchers identified a gap between employee confidence and participation in formal AI training programmes. The report points to the need for more structured, practical and role-specific learning opportunities to ensure organisations can maximise the benefits of AI adoption.
Lead researcher Professor Taha Yasseri, Workday Professor of Technology and Society at Trinity College Dublin, said the findings point to a significant shift in how work is organised.
“Our research finds that AI’s impact on work in Ireland is currently best understood as a process of task and workflow transformation rather than immediate large-scale job displacement. The challenge for organisations is to design effective human-machine partnerships that improve productivity while preserving learning, accountability, expertise and job quality.”
The importance of governance and organisational readiness was also highlighted by Workday’s Graham Abell, vice president of software engineering and Ireland site lead.
“AI can only create lasting value when it’s paired with quality data, organisational context and trusted governance. This report provides important evidence that getting these foundations right is what helps move organisations beyond experimentation towards sustainable, responsible AI implementation.”
The report concludes that Ireland’s next challenge is to move beyond isolated AI adoption towards deliberately designed human-machine partnerships.
The rearchers say organisations should make informed decisions about which activities should be automated, augmented or delegated, while ensuring accountability, inclusion and workforce upskilling remain central to AI deployment strategies.
Image at top: Graham Abell, VP of Software Engineering & Ireland Site Lead, Workday; Una Fitzpatrick, Director of Technology Ireland; Maire Hunt, Director, Technology Ireland DIGITAL Skillnet; Professor Taha Yasseri, Workday Professor of Technology and Society, Trinity College Dublin; Mark Jordan, Chief Executive, Skillnet Ireland; Victoria Mackechnie, Director Site Ops & Corporate Affairs, Workday
👉 No tech background needed to bring your business into the AI age! Secure your Google AI Professional Certificate to complete the certification at no cost. Apply now and get started!
-
Bank of Ireland is welcoming new customers every day – funding investments, working capital and expansions across multiple sectors. To learn more, click here
-
For support in challenging times, click here
-
Listen to the ThinkBusiness Podcast for business insights and inspiration. All episodes are here. You can also listen to the Podcast on:
-
Spotify
-
SoundCloud
-
Apple
