Artificial Intelligence (AI) is expected to reduce routine work but will not lead to widespread job losses in Germany, according to Bernhard Rohleder, CEO of Bitkom, the country’s IT industry association.
In an interview with the Funke Media Group, Rohleder acknowledged that while AI will lower overall demand for certain types of labour, this should not raise alarm—especially amid Germany’s persistent shortage of skilled workers.
“For Germany, we can confidently say that AI will not negatively impact the job market in the foreseeable future,” Rohleder stated.
He explained that some jobs—such as technical translation or basic administrative tasks like note-taking, drafting protocols, or handling standard correspondence—will increasingly be automated. However, Germany’s public and private sectors are already facing a shortfall of over 500,000 workers, particularly in administration.
“AI will help boost competitiveness and productivity, especially in administrative departments and public services,” he added.
Rohleder noted that the situation may differ in countries with younger populations, where labour market dynamics are distinct.
Christian Klein, CEO of German software giant SAP, echoed Rohleder’s optimism. He said SAP views AI as an opportunity rather than a threat, emphasising the company’s focus on upskilling staff and generating new forms of value.
Klein revealed that AI has already helped SAP increase developer productivity by 30%. “Monotonous routine tasks will be eliminated, freeing up time for creative thinking and genuine value creation,” he said.
His comments come in contrast to a recent warning from Dario Amodei, CEO of U.S.-based AI company Anthropic. Speaking to CNN, Amodei predicted mass unemployment in the United States due to AI, suggesting that machines are rapidly surpassing humans in nearly all intellectual tasks.
“AI is starting to get better than humans at almost everything—including what I do, and what other CEOs do,” Amodei warned.
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