Changes in the world of work

70% of employees in Germany currently feel overwhelmed by the changes in the world of work. 45% even express concern that they are falling behind. This is shown by a recent LinkedIn study that examines the mood among employees in light of rapid changes in the workplace—particularly against the backdrop of AI, remote work, automation, and a generally high speed of processes. The study, which surveyed employees between the ages of 18 and 77, reveals surprising findings about generational distribution: younger generations in particular, who are perceived as dynamic and adaptable, are concerned about falling behind professionally – this applies to 46% of Gen Z and 49% of millennials, while older generations aged 45 and above remain significantly more relaxed. Which challenges are particularly significant? Remote work is one of the main challenges: 30% of respondents have difficulty working successfully from home. This is mainly due to difficulties in communicating and collaborating with their team. In addition, 26% say that integrating AI into their daily work is a problem: many of the respondents would like to use AI tools for their work, but feel uncertain about how to use the technology. Further training can help here – as the respondents themselves are aware. 48% state that professional experience alone is not enough for a successful working day, and 33% emphasize the high relevance of continuous or lifelong learning. However, many employees lack the time (28%) and the necessary guidance (34%) for further training. As LinkedIn emphasizes, employers have a particular role to play here: in addition to creating time for further training, a culture of continuous learning must also be established in companies.

We were also interested in the following topics:

• Employee data protection: The BMAS is currently working with the BMI to develop new regulations for handling employee data, which are intended to ensure greater legal certainty and data protection. The draft is available at Table.Media.

• Foreign skilled workers: More than half of foreign workers in Germany report experiences of discrimination and disadvantage. This is the conclusion of a study by the IAB, which is summarized by Der Spiegel.

• Politics on LinkedIn: Not only employees from business and civil society, but also politicians can be found on LinkedIn. Election observer Martin Fuchs has investigated who is particularly successful there and what constitutes this success.

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