AI: Jobs disappearing from Dutch labor market in design, customer service, advertising
Artificial intelligence (AI) is leading to declining job opportunities in many professions, the benefits agency UWV said in its annual report on which professions offer good job prospects. Last year, AI already replaced jobs for graphic designers, translators, and copywriters. This year, opportunities have also decreased in advertising and customer services, where chatbots are replacing people, the UWV reported.
“We currently advise against seeking your fortune in these types of professions,” said Stef Molleman, a labor market advisor at the UWV. “Due to the further development of AI, future job prospects there are really poor.”
While AI is replacing jobs in several professions, the UWV does not expect the technology to solve the widespread staff shortages in the country.
The Dutch labor market is less tight than it was after the coronavirus pandemic, but there are still more jobs available than people to do them. This year, the UWV’s list of 300 professions with good job prospects includes several new additions, including bricklayer, vintage salesperson, and debt counselor. Becoming a veterinarian is also a good option.
“Due to the booming new construction, the expansion of the electricity grid, and the necessary maintenance of bridges and roads, professions such as bricklayer, road construction machine operator, and construction assistant have become promising,” Molleman said.
Many people got pets during the pandemic, so there is a high demand for veterinarians and pet shops. “That also means good job opportunities for veterinary assistants.”
And because more people are struggling with problematic debts, there is also a shortage of debt counselors. The second-hand market is also taking off. “Vintage stores are popping up everywhere. As a result, there are good opportunities for sales assistants in second-hand goods.”
There are also several evergreen options on the list of promising professions, mostly jobs in construction, transport, healthcare, and the hospitality industry. “The expectation is that many of these professions will remain [promising],” Molleman said.
