German engineering workforce faces AI‑driven stress and upskilling demand

A study by Swiss Life Deutschland, IGBCE and ChemieRente finds that younger industrial employees in Germany feel the impact of the digital transformation more acutely. While 25 % of all respondents fear being replaced by artificial intelligence within ten years, the share rises to 37 % among workers under 30. Moreover, 59 % of Generation Z say the current changes have already increased their psychological or physical strain, compared with 38 % of Millennials and 41 % of Generation X.

The VDI‑/IW Engineer Monitor shows a tightening labour market: about 58 000 engineers and IT specialists are unemployed – the highest level since the survey began – while roughly 97 000 positions remain vacant. Despite a short‑term slowdown, long‑term demand for skilled engineers stays high. Around 80 % of engineers expect to need new competencies in the next three years, and two‑thirds anticipate a strong re‑skilling requirement. AI and automation are identified by 87 % of respondents as the main driver of this up‑skilling need, shifting tasks rather than eliminating jobs.

Overall, more than half of industrial workers (54 %) anticipate that demands for flexibility and resilience will continue to rise, with 44 % already reporting additional physical or mental burdens linked to efficiency programmes, staff cuts, restructuring and rapid process changes.