The Irish premier has warned that artificial intelligence could cause a “significant upheaval” in the jobs market, following Meta’s announcement that it intends to reduce its global workforce by 10%.
Meta’s job cuts and impact on Ireland
The owner of Facebook and Instagram, Meta, has revealed plans to cut approximately 8,000 jobs globally as part of a drive to boost efficiency. The company is believed to employ around 1,800 people in Ireland, and has already shed hundreds of roles at its Irish operations in recent years. The Irish Government has indicated that it will take “a few weeks” for the full impact on the Irish workforce to become clear.
Broader tech sector trends
Meanwhile, Microsoft is preparing a voluntary redundancy scheme, planning to make offers to around 8,750 employees, or 7% of its US workforce, in early May.
Taoiseach’s remarks on AI and employment
Speaking to reporters in Cyprus, Taoiseach Micheal Martin expressed concern over the impact of AI on jobs. He noted that during a visit to the United States in March, many industry figures indicated a strong focus on AI and job cuts there. “At Governmental level, I’m looking at proposals to see how we can endeavour to identify the implications and the impact of AI on the world of work over the next number of years,” he said.
Mr Martin acknowledged that new jobs could emerge from increased investment in AI in Ireland, but cautioned: “I think we should be mindful of the fact that there could be significant upheaval in the jobs market over the next decade. And it could be earlier, rather than the latter half of that decade. So we have to be very focused on creating new opportunities.”
Government response and employee support
Simon Harris, the country’s deputy premier and Finance Minister, expressed sympathy for employees facing a “stressful and anxious time”. He stated that Meta has yet to provide details on how the global changes will affect individual countries. “That may take quite a few weeks, is our understanding,” he said. Mr Harris confirmed that Enterprise Minister Peter Burke is continuing to engage with Meta through the Industrial Development Authority.
