The future of digitalisation: A new EU-wide survey reveals that artificial intelligence and digital monitoring are rapidly transforming workplaces across Europe
The study was conducted in 2024-2025 with over 70,000 workers across all 27 EU Member States. The study, titled “Digital Monitoring, Algorithmic Management and the Platformisation of Work in Europe,” examines how digitalisation is transforming job dynamics, work intensity, and privacy in the modern workplace.
Digital workplace is the new normal
According to the Joint Research Centre (JRC) study, nine out of ten EU workers now depend on computers, mobile devices, and software to perform their jobs. Digital tools have become crucial in almost every profession, from office administration to transport and manufacturing.
AI tools, in particular, are becoming common. Around 30% of EU workers now use artificial intelligence in their daily work, most often in text-based tasks. Writing and content creation account for 65% of AI use, followed by translation (59%), data processing (38%), transcription (28%), image generation (27%), scheduling (24%), and customer advice (19%).
The highest rates of AI adoption are found in Northern and Central Europe, with office-based sectors leading the trend. This shows a growing integration of large language models and generative AI tools into professional routines across industries.
The growth of digital monitoring
Digital monitoring has quickly become a vital part of the modern workplace. The survey shows that 37% of workers are monitored for their working hours, while 36% have their entry and exit times tracked.
Monitoring can also extend to internet use, call activity, and even vehicle location, especially in Central and Eastern European countries.
Different industries show different levels of surveillance. Location tracking is more common in transport, construction, and manufacturing, while digital activity monitoring is widespread in finance, ICT, and public administration. As technology enables employers to collect detailed data, the balance between oversight and privacy is becoming a significant policy concern.
Algorithmic management on the rise
Automation is not only changing how work is done but also how it is managed. The study finds that 24% of EU workers have their working time automatically allocated by algorithms, while 21% have tasks assigned in the same way. About 13% are subject to automated performance assessments or reward systems, indicating that algorithmic management is increasingly extending beyond platform-based work into traditional sectors.
This form of digital coordination promises efficiency but also raises questions about transparency, fairness, and worker autonomy.
Platformisation and working conditions
The study categorises workers according to their level of “platformisation,” meaning their exposure to digital tools, monitoring, and algorithmic management. One-third of EU workers (33%) use digital tools without being subject to monitoring or automated management, while 42% experience partial platformisation, exposure to at least one form of both monitoring and algorithmic management.
Smaller groups fall into more intensive categories: 9% face “informational platformisation,” common in finance and insurance, where activity and performance are digitally tracked, and 7% experience “physical platformisation,” typical in logistics and transport. A small minority are fully platformised, meaning all aspects of their work are digitally managed.
Full and physical platformisation are linked to higher stress and lower autonomy, while informational platformisation appears less harmful and is often associated with remote work.
The findings show the need for balanced policies to ensure digitalisation benefits both employers and employees. As the EU advances initiatives like the Quality Jobs Roadmap and new frameworks on algorithmic management, coordinated action between policymakers and social partners will be essential.
