The NERI seminar titled 'The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Employment Relations - A European Study' was presented by Mr. Kevin P. O'Kelly, Industrial Relations & EU Social Policy Researcher. It took place on Wednesday 5 November 2025 at 15.30 as an online Zoom event.
Please find the presentation.
Lecture Format: Mr. Kevin O'Kelly, Industrial Relations & EU Social Policy Researcher made his presentation. Subsequently, there was a Q&A section where the chairperson, NERI Co-director, Dr. Tom McDonnell presented questions from attendees to Kevin.
Abstract: In 2020 the European Social Partners adopted a Framework Agreement on Digitalisation. This agreement addressed the challenges of digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for EU employment under four Pillars:
• Digital skills and securing employment
• Modalities of connecting and disconnecting
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and guaranteeing the Human-in-Control principle
• Respect of human dignity and surveillance.
As all social partner national organisations in the EU are required by this Agreement to take a pro-active involvement in its ‘transposition’ into national employment policies and agreements, the European Commission funded a study project by the research consortium I’m involved in to examined how the Agreement was been implemented in seven EU Member States:
Bulgaria; Cyprus; Estonia; Ireland; Malta; Romania; and Sweden.
One of the key findings of this study was an increased focus by the national social partner organisations on the last two Pillars: a) the impact of AI on the future of work; and b) the issue of using digital / AI systems for surveillance of workers and for monitoring performance and output.
Consequently, our research group submitted a proposal to the European Commission for funding for a ‘follow-up’ project to study the impact of AI on employment and its application for the monitoring of workers. This was approved by the Commission and this new, follow-up, study runs from April, 2024, to March 2026. So, we are close to completion. This project has social partner participants from:
Bulgaria; Cyprus; Italy; Ireland; Malta; Poland; and Romania
In my presentation I propose to:
• Outline the methodology we have adopted – compare national policies; a questionnaire-based for enterprise level, study, by sector:
o Education
o Financial services
o Health
o Manufacturing
o Media.
• Outline some of the key national findings, to date
• Outline some of the initial possible outcomes and recommendations to the European Commission.