Irish government says AI will reshape, not cut, public sector jobs amid strike

At an international artificial-intelligence conference in Dublin, the Irish prime minister asserted that the government does not foresee AI leading to public-sector job losses, but rather to role changes and redeployments. He acknowledged that certain tasks might become obsolete while new responsibilities will arise, and said a forum with trade unions is being set up to examine these shifts. The International Monetary Fund has cautioned that 40%-60% of jobs in advanced economies could be exposed to AI, ranging from elimination to enhancement.

In response, the state is offering training to workers identified as vulnerable. The Enterprise Minister pointed to Ireland’s strong tech sector and highlighted an AI Cabinet subcommittee tasked with monitoring training and vulnerable sectors. The remarks came as hundreds of thousands of public employees staged a nationwide strike demanding higher wages.