Adecco says AI won't cause mass job losses despite tech layoffs
Adecco Group CEO Denis Machuel told Reuters that artificial intelligence will not cause a mass job collapse, citing a study showing record-high employment and near-historic-low unemployment across OECD countries despite three and a half years of rapid AI adoption since ChatGPT’s launch. He argued that companies often blame AI for layoffs driven by poor performance or restructuring, and noted that while some entry-level roles are disappearing, firms must reinvent those jobs through upskilling, reskilling, and collaboration with governments and schools. The report contrasts layoffs at firms like Microsoft, HSBC, Amazon and Standard Chartered, which are cutting staff while boosting AI investment, with OECD data showing overall job growth. Machuel drew parallels to past industrial revolutions, saying technology reshapes work without destroying jobs en masse. The comments come as UN Secretary‑General António Guterres warns that AI is advancing faster than governments can regulate, calling for global governance to manage risks. For Nigerian workers and businesses, the takeaway is clear: rather than fearing job loss, focus on adapting skills and seeking roles where AI complements human effort, and watch how companies reshape entry‑level positions in the coming years.