Despite numerous warnings that AI could lead to widespread redundancies, young tech workers across Europe tend to believe that recent AI advances will supercharge the industry they work in, according to a survey of GenZ and millennial workers across the continent.

The second Young Generation In Tech survey, commissioned by HR tech leader HiBob with global Venture Capital fund Eight Roads, reveals that almost four in five of the 2,000 20-30-year-olds surveyed in tech across Europe believe AI will have a positive impact on their work.

The survey also investigated the topics of job satisfaction, the post-pandemic preference for remote working, and the much debated four-day work week.

Confident About AI

While others have focused often on the threat of AI to the future of work – one report from Goldman Sachs predicts it could replace 300 million full-time jobs – 78% of the young people surveyed are confident about the impact the technology will have on their role.

Some 70% believe AI will make them more productive, efficient, and creative, while only 11% say they never plan to use AI tools.

Confidence levels are highest in the UK where more than 85% of young tech workers are somewhat or very confident about the advances in AI and tech.

By comparison, the percentage of people in Ireland as well as Spain is lower, at 75%, yet this still represents the vast majority.

Is Job Satisfaction Bouncing Back?

Optimism about AI is just one aspect of a dramatic upturn in confidence among young tech workers.

Just 12 months ago, this group reported feeling disillusioned and let down with their roles in the tech sector, with one in four Europeans on the verge of quitting.

As of 2023, the proportion of young Europeans who are unhappy in their role has more than halved (from 35% to just 15%). Almost half (48%) of those surveyed said they’re “very satisfied” with their role, and 63% have no plans to leave their job in the foreseeable future, indicating a more settled workforce than in 2022.

Afterall, it was reported at over half of all tech workers in the UK changed job in the last year.

Increased job satisfaction also seems to be linked to greater job security, with 59% of respondents in Europe considering their position to be secure, compared with 51% last year. Some 77% of respondents also reported having been promoted at least once in the past 24 months, too.

Davor Hebel, managing partner, Eight Roads Ventures: “It’s heartening to see confidence recover amongst the tech’s youngest workers. Despite the ongoing economic uncertainty, today’s young professionals are proving just how resilient and adaptable they can be.

“Not surprisingly, they are the fastest generation to embrace AI, seeing it as a strong productivity lever, and not a threat. AI is one of the most significant innovations of our time, and it’s great to see younger people so engaged with it.”

However, this research does contradict other recent surveys of tech workers. For instance, one recent survey found that over three quarters (77%) of UK tech workers were unhappy at their jobs.

Further, around a third (32.2%) of UK women in tech said they were planning on leaving their current tech job, with some of these planning on leaving the sector altogether. The satisfaction in tech is therefore unlikely to be universal.

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Back to the Office

As the debate around working patterns continues to divide, the survey also reveals that the office isn’t dead. While flexible work models remain important across all regions surveyed, young people do still want to go to the office.

More than half (56%) said they choose to be in the office four or five days a week, while only 9% choose to work fully remotely.

Young people confirm that being in the office makes them more engaged and motivated. When asked about what they most like about being in the office, respondents mention the people they work with: their team, their manager, and interactions with people in general.

It is also important to note that most young people do not live alone, nor do they own their own homes outright. Situations with roommates, as well as having to pay for energy throughout the workday, could also be driving young workers back to the office.

Proving that purpose is also a key driver for young workers, more than a fifth of young Europeans (21%) said that their ideal role would be for a company with positive impact, and they regret the fact their employer isn’t making more of a positive difference to the world.

The same number additionally said that working for a company with strong values and which promotes fairness, collaboration, and allows time for volunteering supports their mental health and wellbeing.

This is in line with recent research which looked at the youngest generation entering work – GenZ – which found that values and making a positive impact were typically more important than salaries.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Speaking of wellbeing, while the survey found that feats over job insecurity had largely receded, over half (56%) reported their job impacts their mental health.

When asked what employers can do to support the respondents’ mental health, being trusted to complete tasks came out on top, followed by having the necessary resources to do their job.

One in five UK workers believe that they’ve been monitored at work, with the vast majority (70%) finding the practice intrusive, which could have negative effects on mental health.

Besides these concerns, workers are also seeking direct access to mental health specialists, and specific wellbeing benefits fell further down the list.

Ronni Zehavi, co-founder & CEO of HiBob: “The young generation is signalling a clear message: beyond competitive salaries and benefits, they’re in search of workplaces that resonate with purpose and empower them with the necessary resources to thrive.

“Companies that understand these needs will succeed in making young people feel more secure, and less likely to leave.”