Three-Quarters of Dutch Workers Fear AI Will Eliminate Jobs Despite Innovation Push

2026-02-25 data

Netherlands, Wednesday, 25 February 2026.
A striking paradox emerges as 75% of Dutch adults believe artificial intelligence will cause widespread job losses, even as the Netherlands invests heavily in becoming Europe’s AI innovation leader. The CBS research reveals that workers already using AI are more likely to fear replacement, with 56% expecting partial job displacement compared to 37% of non-users. This disconnect between national AI ambitions and public anxiety creates urgent challenges for policymakers balancing technological advancement with workforce concerns.

CBS Research Reveals Widespread Worker Concerns

The comprehensive study conducted by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) through their ‘Belevingen 2025’ research project interviewed Dutch adults throughout 2025 about their experiences and opinions regarding artificial intelligence [1][2]. Published on February 25, 2026, the findings reveal that 75% of Dutch adults expect AI to cause job losses, while 64% believe it will lead to the loss of knowledge and skills among personnel [1][2]. Among working adults specifically, 41% think their jobs can be partially replaced by AI, with an additional 4% believing their work could be completely taken over [2][3]. The research comes at a critical juncture as the Netherlands positions itself as a leading European innovation hub with significant AI investments.

Active AI Users Show Higher Replacement Expectations

Perhaps counterintuitively, workers already using AI demonstrate greater concern about job displacement than their non-using counterparts. The CBS data shows that 43% of working adults currently use AI in their professional activities [2][4]. Among this group, 56% believe their work could be wholly or partially replaced by AI, compared to just 37% of workers who do not currently use the technology [2][4][5]. This pattern suggests that familiarity with AI capabilities may actually heighten awareness of potential job displacement risks rather than alleviate concerns. Luuk Hovius from CBS explains the uncertainty surrounding which specific roles might be affected: ‘You can think of administrative functions, but also some care tasks that could be taken over by robots. Or think of self-driving cars that could help package deliverers. That’s very hard to predict because we can’t see how the technology will develop’ [1].

Education and Demographics Shape AI Perceptions

Educational background significantly influences how workers perceive AI’s potential impact on their careers. Higher-educated professionals with HBO (university of applied sciences) or WO (research university) degrees more frequently expect AI to affect their work compared to those with VMBO (pre-vocational secondary education) or MBO (senior secondary vocational education) qualifications [2][6][7]. Young adults aged 18-25 also show heightened expectations that AI could partially or completely perform their work tasks, though this demographic expresses less concern about these possibilities compared to older workers [2][6]. Gender differences emerge primarily in anxiety levels rather than expectations, with women and men equally likely to believe AI could replace their work, but women expressing significantly more worry about these prospects [2][6][7].

Productivity Benefits Versus Skills Erosion Concerns

While job displacement fears dominate public discourse, Dutch adults also recognize AI’s potential benefits for workplace efficiency. The CBS research indicates that 57% of respondents expect AI to increase productivity by enabling faster task completion [2][6][7]. However, concerns about skill degradation remain substantial, with nearly half (48%) believing AI will make certain work activities less interesting [2][6]. The technology’s potential to address labor shortages receives mixed reception, with 46% thinking AI could reduce personnel needs in specific sectors and 41% believing it could take over dangerous jobs [2][6][7]. Hovius notes that skills like ‘administrative functions, typing and writing skills, calculation power, or coding’ could be particularly affected, as workers might delegate coding tasks to AI rather than developing these capabilities themselves [1]. Despite widespread concerns about job losses, the research reveals that expectations of enhanced productivity through AI adoption suggest Dutch workers recognize both the challenges and opportunities presented by advancing artificial intelligence technologies.

Bronnen

artificial intelligence job displacement