Science & Tech · AI · 14 hrs ago
AI-related job changes are driving STEM workers to leave
15% in the UK and 38.4% in Germany of STEM workers said colleagues had left their teams for AI-related reasons, according to separate findings.
STEM covers fields such as science, technology, engineering and maths.
In a German survey, 52.2% cited work changing beyond recognition, while others pointed to limited career prospects or workloads they could no longer manage.
The UK findings also identified reduced career prospects and unsustainable workloads as common reasons.
Despite the departures, two-thirds of German AI users said team productivity had risen compared with two years earlier.
Employers may struggle to replace specialists, and losing experienced workers could leave long-term skills gaps.
Workers in Germany called for targeted training, clear rules for AI use and earlier involvement by management, while the findings do not specify any further next steps.
A survey found that AI-related changes to work have been linked to colleagues leaving STEM jobs in both the UK and Germany.
In Germany, 38.4% of STEM workers said colleagues had left their team for AI-related reasons in the previous 12 months; in the UK, 15% said they had seen colleagues leave because AI changed their roles.
German respondents most often cited work changing “beyond recognition,” while UK respondents highlighted reduced career prospects and unsustainable workloads.
The reports also point to possible difficulties replacing specialist workers and longer-term skills gaps.
At the same time, many German AI users reported higher team productivity, and some workers described their feelings about AI positively.
- Who
- STEM workers and their colleagues in the UK and Germany.
- What
- Workers reported colleagues leaving amid AI-related changes to their jobs. The surveys also identified concerns about career prospects and workloads.
- When
- The German survey asked about the previous 12 months and was conducted in summer 2026. The articles were published on 23 and 24 October 2026.
- Where
- The UK and Germany.
- Why
- Reported reasons included work changing substantially, fewer career development opportunities and workloads becoming unsustainable.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
YouGov surveyed 817 STEM workers in Germany on behalf of SThree.
TechRadar reported that 15% of UK STEM professionals had seen colleagues leave because AI changed their roles.
cash.ch reported the German survey findings, including that 38.4% of STEM workers said colleagues had left for AI-related reasons in the previous 12 months.
- UK STEM workers
- 15% said they had seen colleagues leave because AI changed their roles
- Germany STEM workers
- 38.4% said colleagues had left their team for AI-related reasons in the previous 12 months
- German survey
- 817 STEM workers surveyed by YouGov for SThree
- German respondents
- 52.2% of those reporting AI-related departures cited work changing beyond recognition
- Replacement challenges
- 45% of UK organizations struggled to replace specialist employees who left over the past year
2 sources
What people are saying
So when workers vote with their feet, businesses can be left with lasting skills gaps that can be costly
beyond recognition