Os Recent layoffs in the technology sector and services, such as ‘call centers’may already be motivated by the use of artificial intelligence (IA), say economists, who, however, are optimistic about the labor market.
Last week it was reported that layoffs of 200 people in Teleperfomance and 68 in Microsoft Portugal. In recent months, it has also been known similar processes in more traditional industrieswith the social partners interviewed last month expressing concern.
“There are several countries, particularly in center from Europewhich have very low growth levels, or very close to crisis, particularly in the German case. And therefore, this will later mean decreased sales”said João Cerejeira, professor of Economics at the University of Minho.
The economist also pointed out two more possible reasons: “whether these companies have found markets where they can do the same service, at more affordable prices”e “a technology component, that is, particularly in the case of Teleperformance, customer support and this type of services associated with telephone calls”highlighting that “most of them begin to be replaced by technology associated with artificial intelligence”.
Pedro Martins, professor at Nova School of Business and Economics (SBE) and former Secretary of Statehighlighted the specific context of ‘call centers’ “where the growth of artificial intelligence could be particularly impactful”.
Light at the end of the tunnel
According to João Cerejeira, There is still no indication that unemployment will increase soonpointing out the country’s position vis-à-vis the outside world, which “remains balanced”with the unemployment em “historically low levels”.
Still, he acknowledged, there may be, at sectoral level, “situations of greatest concern”pointing mainly to the more traditional sectors of textile, footwear or industry.
According to the economist, one of the most important questions is to understand whether these workers, targeted for dismissal, “have employment alternatives and whether there are policy measures, particularly in terms of professional training, that allow conversion to other areas”.
For Pedro Martins, “we continue to have a situation in which workers have alternatives, in which companies have difficulty hiring, in which salaries continue to grow”he indicated, classifying the general panorama as “positive”.
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