Some German firms see AI reducing need for degrees, Ifo says

FILE PHOTO: Figurines with computers and smartphones are seen in front of the words "Artificial Intelligence AI" in this illustration taken, February 19, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

12 Jun 2026 05:43PM

FRANKFURT, June 12 : Close to 20 per cent of German companies that use artificial intelligence are finding it easy to replace employees with university degrees with AI-enabled staff without a degree, a survey by German economic research institute Ifo showed.• The survey also showed that about 15 per cent of the companies surveyed deemed it easy to replace experienced employees with AI-enabled staff with less experience• “AI is transforming the world of work and in some areas can even partially replace formal qualifications and experience,” says Ifo researcher Anna Ruffert• Retail and wholesale trade companies signalled the highest readiness to make those staff switches among sectors, Ifo added

Source: Reuters