ECB sees no wave of AI-led layoffs yet, Lagarde says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 26, 2026
1 min readLast updated: February 26, 2026
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 26, 2026
1 min readLast updated: February 26, 2026
ECB’s Christine Lagarde says AI is lifting eurozone productivity without causing a wave of layoffs so far. She told EU lawmakers the ECB remains vigilant about potential labour-market effects.
FRANKFURT, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Artificial intelligence is boosting productivity in the euro zone but it is not yet causing a wave of layoffs due to greater automation of labour, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said on Thursday.
"What we are seeing for the moment is that it's increasing productivity," Lagarde told a committee of the European Parliament. "But we are not yet seeing consequences in terms of labour market and waves of redundancies that are feared, and that you know we will be extremely attentive going forward."
(Reporting by Balazs Korany and Francesco Canepa; Editing by Alison Williams)
ECB President Christine Lagarde says AI is boosting eurozone productivity without triggering a wave of layoffs, while the central bank continues to monitor labour impacts.
According to Lagarde, there is no current wave of AI-led redundancies. Productivity is improving, but the ECB is watching closely for potential labour-market effects.
If AI lifts productivity without major job losses, it could support growth with less inflationary pressure. Policymakers will gauge whether this trend persists before adjusting stance.
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