Irish workers considering new routes as AI reshapes work, finds Microsoft

A new report found that Irish employees’ workplace expectations and experiences are being transformed by artificial intelligence.

Microsoft Ireland has today (10 September) released the findings of its 2026 Work Trend Index. The report explores how Ireland’s employees are responding to a working environment under constant evolution in response to AI.  

This year’s Work Trend Index, in collaboration with 3Gem, surveyed 1,000 nationally representative adults based in Ireland, in casual and part-time work, including frontline employees and knowledge workers. 

The survey builds on the year-on-year comparisons of the changing trends, experiences and workplace expectations between 2022 and 2026.

What was discovered is that nearly half (48pc) of workers who participated in the research have changed employers in the last 12 months, a figure which has risen from 38pc in 2025.

47pc of professionals explained that AI is making them seriously reconsider their career path. This has risen from 34pc just last year. 

The AI influence

The report found that there is significant optimism around the potential of AI, as 76pc of participants believe it offers Ireland a major economic opportunity. Almost two-thirds believe skills in this area are critical when competing in the wider jobs market and 61pc are of the opinion that developing AI skills will support career progression.

There are some concerns also, as almost 60pc of people fear falling behind if they are too slow to adapt, and 13pc are considering changing their employer if there is insufficient access to advanced AI tools. This is perhaps not unexpected, as Microsoft’s report suggests that AI use at work has risen to 63pc. 

Many employers, however, are failing to meet the expectations of a workforce that is becoming increasingly used to embedded AI.

While 57pc of participant workers can identify where AI agents could help in their role and 48pc are already using AI agents regularly, organisations are in catch-up mode, with employers yet to provide the right levels of upkilling, investment and leadership, according to the index. 

Only 40pc of contributors feel that they have had enough AI training or guidance, less than half agreed that their employer provides the tools and resources they need, and only 48pc find that leadership expectations around AI use are clear. 

The report said: “The findings suggest Ireland’s AI opportunity is not constrained by employee appetite, but by how quickly organisations can translate that enthusiasm into practical capability, trusted adoption and business value.”

The Work Trend Index identified the ways in which organisations can accelerate their AI adoption to match employee needs and that is largely by viewing the workforce as an asset that requires consistent upgrading.  

65pc of employees are open to new ideas and ways of working with AI, 89pc said AI has improved the quality of their work, 61pc are curious about what AI could unlock for them or their team, and 65pc said they treat AI output as a starting point while remaining responsible for the final work. 

“Leadership will be critical to converting employee interest into confident adoption. However, more than half of workers (51pc) say leadership is out of touch with employees, while fewer than half say their manager actively uses AI, encourages AI adoption or supports experimentation,” the report said. 

“The findings point to a clear opportunity for leaders to model responsible use, set expectations and give employees the confidence and permission to explore where AI can add value.”

Catherine Doyle, general manager at Microsoft Ireland, said, “Ireland’s workforce is adapting quickly to a changing world of work. People are thinking differently about the skills they need, the career paths they want and the opportunities they expect from their employers. 

“At the same time, there is strong recognition of AI’s potential, both for individual careers and for Ireland’s future competitiveness. What is particularly encouraging is that workers are not waiting on the sidelines. They’re developing new future-ready skills and exploring how AI can help them in their current and future roles. 

“The challenge now is whether organisations can keep pace with this momentum. The next phase is about turning AI adoption into meaningful value by building organisational capability and trust, strengthening governance and security, and redesigning work around better outcomes.

“The organisations that get this right will be better placed to create meaningful value for their people, customers and the wider economy.”

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