Campaigners have urged caution over the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in employment services, warning it could deepen inequality and create new challenges for unemployed people, particularly those with limited digital skills.
The issue was a central topic at the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed’s (INOU) annual delegate conference, held this week in Dublin. Delegates debated the potential risks of AI, including concerns that it may be used to profile jobseekers in ways that could raise equality and human rights concerns.
A key motion passed at the conference called on the Government to involve service users in both the design and evaluation of any AI-driven tools introduced into the public employment service. Campaigners said that such involvement is essential to ensure fairness and transparency.
“Our concern is that if we don’t ensure social inclusion and equality are built into how systems are designed, they could cement existing inequalities in Irish society,” said BrĂd O’Brien, Director of Policy and Media at the INOU. “We really need to make sure these services are accessible and that people know how to use them.”
The INOU warned that without adequate training and inclusion, AI could alienate or disadvantage those already struggling with unemployment and digital literacy. There is also unease about the potential for automated systems to make decisions that could affect people’s access to welfare support or employment opportunities.
The conference was formally opened by Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary, who acknowledged the growing role of technology in the department’s operations. “Digitalisation and technological change is something that has become a driving force for my department,” he said.
He added that the public employment service is currently exploring where generative AI could help improve support for both jobseekers and employers, but did not offer details on safeguards or oversight.
Beyond AI, the conference also focused on broader economic justice issues. Another motion urged the Government to follow through on its commitment to replace the National Minimum Wage with a Living Wage. Delegates also called for social welfare rates to be benchmarked at a level high enough to lift recipients above the poverty line.
They criticised the penalty rate for certain jobseeker payments—doubled in 2024—as punitive, and urged the Government to reverse the measure.
The INOU’s demands reflect growing concern about the intersection of technology, welfare, and social equity, as automation continues to reshape how public services are delivered in Ireland.
