The Rise of AI in the Workplace
Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming a part of daily life, influencing areas such as education and professional environments. Despite its growing presence, many individuals use generative AI tools for personal purposes rather than in their professional roles.
According to Eurostat, 15% of people aged 16 to 74 used AI for work in 2025. However, this figure varies widely across different countries. In 33 European nations, workplace AI usage ranges from a low of 1.3% in Hungary to a high of 35.4% in Norway, with Switzerland closely following at 34.4%.
Professor Aleksandra Przegalińska from Kozminski University highlighted that Norway’s higher adoption rate aligns with its strong digital public sector, high levels of public trust, skilled workforce, and mature employer practices. Other countries with notable AI usage include Malta (29.6%), Denmark (27.2%), the Netherlands (26.6%), Estonia (25.1%), and Finland (25.1%).
In contrast, fewer than one in ten people use AI at work in countries like Romania, Turkey, Serbia, and Italy. Przegalińska emphasized that AI adoption is not merely about enthusiasm but involves investment in skills, workflows, and trust-building governance that transforms experimentation into routine practice.
A Clear Regional Divide
The data reveals a distinct geographic pattern. Northern and Western European countries lead in AI adoption, while Southern Europe presents a mixed picture. Eastern and Southeastern Europe generally lag behind in AI usage.
Among the EU’s largest economies, France has the highest workplace AI use at 18.4%, followed by Spain at 17.9%. Germany is slightly above the EU average at 15.8%, whereas Italy significantly trails at 8%. Several smaller economies, including Luxembourg, Cyprus, Austria, Sweden, and Belgium, also report relatively high AI usage rates between 20% and 25%.
It is important to note that these figures reflect individuals using AI at work, not the share of companies adopting the technology.
The Gap Between Personal and Professional Use
Overall AI use in the EU stands at 32.7%, while workplace AI use is at 15.1%. This means that less than half of AI users, approximately 46%, apply it for work. The gap varies significantly by country.
In Switzerland, Malta, Norway, and the Netherlands, most AI users also use it at work. Conversely, countries such as Hungary, Romania, and Serbia have much lower rates of workplace AI use among AI users. Przegalińska attributed these differences to a combination of “capability” and “permission.”
Skills, Structure, and Workplace Culture
Capability includes digital skills, the proportion of knowledge-based jobs, and digital infrastructure such as broadband and cloud access. Permission, on the other hand, is influenced by organizational culture and rules.
“Where employers provide approved tools, clear guidelines, and training, employees tend to adopt AI more quickly because they feel safe and know what is allowed,” she explained. OECD data indicates that individual use of generative AI is rising rapidly, increasing by 68% between 2024 and 2025 in EU countries with available data.
Nils Adriansson, an economist-statistician at the OECD, noted that businesses are increasingly using AI, with generative AI being a key driver of this trend. He stated that large firms typically adopt new technologies earlier due to their broader range of activities and resources.
The Role of Economic Structure
The composition of national economies also plays a significant role in AI adoption. Professor Valerio De Stefano from York University in Toronto explained that differences in the data may be attributed to the varying structures of national economies, with some countries having more industries where generative AI can be easily implemented, such as knowledge and media work, ICT, research, and development.
He added that some workers might underestimate how much they already rely on AI, as many commonly used tools are powered by it. The data was collected in 2025, before the widespread adoption of AI agents across the economy, suggesting that AI usage could increase further in the near future.
