AI fuels hiring shifts, soaring salaries and legal risks across Europe

An analysis by Savills finds that AI adoption in Europe does not curb demand for office space; economic growth remains the primary driver of office employment, and firms that invest in AI are slightly more likely to expand staff. ManpowerGroup’s regional president for Central and Southern Europe, David Herranz, says soft skills such as communication, empathy and curiosity are becoming decisive as AI changes job profiles, and new roles like AI prompt engineers are emerging.

In Poland, a Devire salary report shows AI‑focused IT specialists commanding premium pay – senior AI Solutions Architects earn up to 50,000 zł per month, and other AI roles earn roughly 50 % more than comparable positions. Meanwhile, PwC Legal warns that AI is automating routine legal work, prompting a shift from hourly billing to value‑based pricing and requiring junior lawyers to learn to work with, and outperform, AI tools.

Companies also face growing “Shadow AI” risks when employees use unauthorized AI applications, creating legal exposure under GDPR and other regulations. The combined trends point to a restructuring of European workplaces driven by AI adoption, higher remuneration for AI talent, and new compliance challenges.