A survey shows an AI hiring slowdown across South Korean companies. The civic group Gabjil 119 released these findings on Sunday. Specifically, 52.4 percent of workers said new hiring has shrunk. Their employers adopted artificial intelligence for work tasks. Consequently, the AI hiring slowdown appears widespread across many industries. The survey also found that 47.1 percent of firms now use AI. Others remain in the process of implementing this technology.
Nevertheless, the AI hiring slowdown does not translate into lighter workloads. When asked about personal workload changes, 54.1 percent said it remained unchanged. Another 26.7 percent reported that their workload actually increased. Only 19.1 percent of respondents said AI had reduced their tasks. Therefore, the civic group expressed concern about these contradictory trends. “AI may remove jobs while increasing employee workloads,” the group stated. This outcome contradicts optimistic promises about AI enhancing life quality. The group noted that current public discussions often miss this risk.
The AI hiring slowdown also creates confusion among certain worker groups. Specifically, 16.2 percent of respondents did not know if their company uses AI. This uncertainty appeared particularly profound among non-guaranteed contract workers. These temporary employees often lack clear communication from management. Meanwhile, the survey highlights a growing disconnect between corporate technology adoption and worker well-being. Companies embrace AI primarily to cut costs and reduce headcount. However, remaining employees must shoulder heavier responsibilities without additional compensation. This pattern mirrors trends observed in other advanced economies as well.
The Gabjil 119 survey sampled workers across various sectors. It did not specify the exact number of respondents. Nevertheless, the findings carry significant policy implications. Labor experts may call for stronger protections during technological transitions. Unions might demand redistribution of productivity gains from AI. The South Korean government has not yet issued an official response. However, lawmakers may review labor laws in light of these findings. Future research should track whether this trend continues as technology evolves. For now, workers face a paradox: less hiring but more work.
