The contribution digital gap: How artificial intelligence split the labor market first appeared at the online magazine Basic Thinking. You can start the day well every morning via our newsletter update.
Artificial intelligence is now part of everyday life for many people. However, in particular on the job market, AI seems to be increasing the gap between individual professional groups and levels of education. This emerges from a recent study by the University of Konstanz.
Digital technologies now influence almost all areas of life – this is especially true for artificial intelligence. Because not only in society, but also in the German economy, AI is used more and more – even if not everywhere.
The Constance AI study 2025 Shows: While the use of AI applications overall increases, the labor market is also increasing.
AI and labor market: debate characterized by uncertainties
For the second time, scientists from the University of Konstanz examined central developments when using AI at the workplace. To do this, they interviewed over 3,000 people in two waves of survey between March 2024 and May 2025.
These are representative of the German employment population, taking into account age, gender, activity and level of education. The analysis showed that 35 percent of employees in Germany use artificial intelligence in their everyday work.
Compared to the first survey, this corresponds to an increase of eleven percentage points. Accordingly, the most frequently used applications for automated text generation such as Chatgpt as well as specialized tools for predictions and robotics.
Florian Kunze, head of the study and professor of organizational behavior at the University of Konstanz, also explains, “[…] that AI is becoming increasingly important in Germany – but the social debate is strongly shaped by uncertainty and inequalities. ”
For example, a third of the employees do not know how AI will affect their own work. In addition, 46 percent of people see serious risks for the entire labor market. However, only 20 percent personally fear for their own workplace.
AI reinforces existing inequalities
Especially in knowledge -intensive professions such as IT, administration and research, the use of AI seems to increase particularly strongly: Almost half of the employees now use corresponding applications. In contrast to the last survey, this corresponds to an increase of 15 percentage points.
In contrast, the increase in production -related and manual professions is significantly lower. It falls by four percentage points to 21 percent. This makes the study clear: AI currently acts as an amplifier of existing inequalities on the labor market.
There are also clear differences in the attitude to the opportunities of AI: 43 percent of employees in office and knowledge work expect positive effects for their work. It is only 24 percent for people in manual activities.
AI and labor market: differences according to the level of education and company size
The level of education also seems to play a special gap line: Employees with a university degree apparently use artificial intelligence three times as often as people with a low level of education. The willingness to continue training is also increasing with the level of education.
“Anyone who is already privileged benefits from the opportunities of technology. Without targeted political or operational support, a permanent digital division of the labor market is threatened,” explains Carolina Opitz, a research assistant in the research project.
So while employees increasingly deal with AI, the change at the organizational level is significantly slower. Small companies in particular hardly invest in further training or clear communication strategies for using the technology.
Larger companies show more initiative. However, the total level remains low there. “There is a risk that dependent organizations will develop in which technological change hardly arrives and employees have permanently poorer development opportunities,” emphasizes Kunze. “The risk of growing social division requires targeted efforts of politics, business and educational institutions.”
The Constance study makes it clear: AI has increasingly increased existing inequalities on the labor market, because in particular privileged groups benefit from the technology. Meanwhile, others run the risk of being left behind. Without targeted political, educational and operational measures, this digital division threatens to continue to gain weight.
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As a tech industry expert, I believe that the digital gap created by artificial intelligence in the labor market is a significant concern that needs to be addressed. While AI has the potential to revolutionize industries and improve efficiency, it also has the potential to displace certain jobs and create inequalities in the workforce.
On one hand, AI can create new job opportunities in fields such as data analysis, machine learning, and AI programming. However, these jobs often require specialized skills and education, leaving behind those who may not have access to the necessary training or resources.
Furthermore, AI has the potential to automate routine and repetitive tasks, leading to job displacement for low-skilled workers in industries such as manufacturing, retail, and customer service. This can exacerbate income inequality and widen the digital divide between those who have the skills to thrive in a digital economy and those who do not.
To address the digital gap created by AI, it is crucial for governments, businesses, and educational institutions to invest in training programs and initiatives that help workers adapt to the changing labor market. This includes promoting digital literacy, upskilling and reskilling programs, and providing support for workers who may be displaced by automation.
Overall, while AI has the potential to bring about significant advancements in technology and innovation, it is important to be mindful of its impact on the labor market and work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable digital economy for all.
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