The use of generative artificial intelligence is spreading at different rates in Europe, but Albania and Kosovo are emerging as among the most active countries in adopting this technology in the region and beyond.
According to data from the European Working Conditions Survey, published at the end of April, about 12% of employees in the European Union use generative AI in their work.
However, the published chart shows that some countries outside the bloc, including Albania and Kosovo, rank above this average, approaching the levels of more developed countries. Kosovo ranks seventh in Europe, with 20% of employees using generative AI, after Luxembourg (25%), Switzerland (24%), Sweden (21%), Norway (21%), Belgium (20%), and Denmark, also with 20%.
While Albania ranks 11th, with 18% of employees reporting that they use generative AI, at the same levels as Germany, Austria and Finland and much less than the Netherlands (19%).
In other countries in the region, the use of generative AI is very low, with North Macedonia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina ranking at the bottom of Europe, with just 3% use. In Montenegro the figure is slightly higher, at 10%.
Neighbors, such as Greece and Italy, where most Albanians have emigrated, use this tool very little, at only 5%.
Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that not only analyzes data, but also creates new content, such as text, images, code, or audio, based on patterns it has learned from existing data. Unlike traditional AI systems that focus on prediction or classification, generative AI can produce material similar to that created by humans, making it useful in fields such as writing, marketing, programming, and design.
According to the report, by 2024, the use of generative AI tools at work will be reported by 12% of employees in the EU. However, there are significant differences between member states, with the highest levels in Luxembourg, Sweden, Belgium and Denmark, where at least one in five employees declares using generative AI in their work. Other countries, such as Greece, Italy, Portugal and Romania, have much lower levels, at 5% or less.
Generative AI tools are used more by men than women and by younger workers than older workers. Young people often have a greater familiarity with new technologies, including generative AI, because they have grown up in a digital environment.
While there is growing evidence that generative AI can significantly increase productivity in knowledge-based occupations, it can also contribute to increased monotony at work, for example by generating large volumes of content that require constant review and revision. However, a preliminary analysis of labor survey data suggests the opposite: the use of generative AI is associated with lower levels of monotonous tasks and a higher likelihood that employees will self-assess the quality of their work.
This pattern may be related to the fact that generative AI is used more in occupations such as managers and professionals, who typically have higher levels of education and more autonomy at work. The latest Eurobarometer data also shows that young people (15–24 years old) have a more positive perception of technologies in the workplace, including AI, compared to older age groups.
This trend, the report notes, highlights a generational digital divide, where older workers may face difficulties in adopting and integrating these technologies into their work. A gap by education level is also observed in the use of generative AI, as is the use of other technologies included in the survey.
The European Working Conditions Survey 2024, published in April this year, provides a comprehensive picture of the quality of work in Europe, analyzing workforce characteristics, workplaces, job quality and quality of working life.
The survey is an important tool for policymakers, as it highlights the role of job quality in achieving sustainable and inclusive growth in Europe.
The survey findings are based on 36,644 face-to-face interviews conducted in 35 countries. Each interview lasted around 45 minutes, providing a unique insight into the state of work in Europe.
This survey has been conducted regularly since 1990, providing a comparable series of data on working conditions in Europe at five-year intervals./Monitor
