Wertewandel: Berufestudie: Viele Menschen arbeiten nur noch fürs Geld

A growing number of people in Germany are working solely for financial reasons, according to a Yougov survey included in the annual Berufestudie report by insurance company HDI. This shift marks a significant change in attitude, with 59 percent of respondents citing money as the primary motivation for their work. This figure represents a 17 percentage point increase from last year and nearly double the rate seen before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019.

Many individuals are considering resigning from their jobs if they no longer need them financially. In the age group of 15 to 54, over half (54 percent) stated they would quit work as soon as possible if financial necessity arose. Even among older workers aged 55 to 64, 63 percent expressed a desire to retire if it were financially feasible.

The survey, conducted from June 10 to July 3 among 3,844 working individuals, was representative of the entire country and individual states. Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerged as a key topic in the poll, eliciting mixed reactions. Roughly a quarter of respondents anticipated or were already experiencing positive effects from AI in three areas: reduced routine work, improved personal work outcomes, and increased productivity.

However, 42 percent believed AI would lead to job cuts, with 9 percent experiencing this impact firsthand. While there was no consensus on which professions were most vulnerable to AI, the most feared included information technology developers (41 percent), financial and tax advisors (38 percent), advertising and marketing professionals (36 percent), and administrative workers (35 percent).

Chefs and cooks were least likely to be replaced by AI, with only 3 percent believing the technology could replace human chefs.