Digitization, automation and artificial intelligence have long since arrived in the everyday working lives of many employees – but they often create uncertainty, rather than increasing productivity. These are the findings of the Global Talent Trends Study 2019 by the consultancy company Mercer. Two out of three employees worldwide would like responsibilities that are defined more clearly and communicated appropriately. The study sees one of the keys to retaining employees in giving them the feeling that they are not replaceable. German HR departments identified “employee fluctuation” and a “decline in employee confidence” as two of the biggest challenges for the coming year.

It is beyond doubt that future technologies are having profound effects on workplace organization and the labor market. As a study by Oliver Wyman revealed last year, older employees, in particular, have reason to worry about their jobs because those jobs tend to have an above-average automation potential.