- European leaders expect employment growth of 27% in 2026 and 17% in 2027
- World Economic Forum predicts 78 million net new jobs by the end of the decade
- Security and privacy continue to hold back some users
New data from the Linux Foundation has revealed information that directly challenges long-standing concerns that AI could replace human workers; According to new data, European employers say they actually expect AI adoption to increase tech hiring.
And this isn’t just a short-term burst: they expect 27% growth in 2026 and another 17% growth in 2027 as demand for human jobs continues.
Instead, the Linux Foundation’s research is the latest in a growing number of reports that predict job displacement through simultaneous job creation and loss, rather than an absolute net loss.
Linux Foundation Data Reveals AI Isn’t Eliminating Jobs After All
This aligns with separate WEF research from 2025, which predicted that 78 million net new jobs could be created by 2030, resulting from 92 million displacements but 170 million new jobs created.
However, even though we seem to be on our way to more job opportunities, business leaders are still worried about the same old things. Half (51%) of European organizations cite security as a major obstacle to widespread adoption, and 44% also worry about privacy.
As a result, the Linux Foundation argues that the challenge is no longer whether companies want AI, but whether they can implement it safely enough. With greater emphasis and investment in data security and privacy, it implies that continued job growth could occur beyond the previous 2026 and 2027 projections.
This comes amid a significant AI skills shortage across the continent, with organizations reporting shortages in AI and ML expertise, cloud computing capabilities, cybersecurity understanding and data engineering skills.
Looking ahead, the most important conclusion of the report is that companies should invest in internal training programs to prepare and support the future workforce. Those who are already doing it reveal that it is faster and cheaper than hiring externally.
“There can be no digital sovereignty without local technological talent,” concluded the general manager of the Linux Foundation Europe, Thierry Carrez.
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