One in Five Gen Zers Very Concerned About AI Job Loss in US, Europe Survey

A recent Deutsche Bank survey reveals that nearly one in five Gen Z workers fear losing their jobs to AI within two years, with younger adults expressing significantly higher anxiety compared to older generations, especially in the U.S. This concern is heightened by evidence from Stanford and Harvard studies showing declining junior employment in AI-adopting firms. Meanwhile, Brendan Foody, CEO of AI-focused recruiting firm Mercor, highlights at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 how AI is reshaping hiring by expanding talent pools and emphasizing upskilling, suggesting a future where AI-augmented teams become the norm. Contrastingly, tech entrepreneur Brian O’Kelley criticizes CEOs enforcing return-to-office mandates, arguing that remote-first, asynchronous work cultures are better suited for integrating AI and maintaining global productivity. These perspectives underscore a workplace in flux where AI accelerates transformation but also fuels generational and operational divides about job security, hiring, and work culture.