DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17022049
title: AI in Business – EU contextual regulations & future workforce survey data (dataset)

description: DATASET OVERVIEW

This dataset is a CSV file containing responses from an online survey titled “AI in Business – EU Contextual Regulations and Future Workforce Impacts.” The survey ran from late 2023 through 2025, gathering over 300 responses from participants (primarily in Romania and other EU regions). Each row in the CSV represents one respondent’s answers. Questions span multiple-choice and Likert scale responses, divided into three sections: (A) demographics and background, (B) perceptions of AI in business and relevant EU regulations, and (C) motivations and experiences with AI adoption in business. The questionnaire was provided in both English and Romanian to maximize clarity and participation in a bilingual context[1]. Table 1 below summarizes the structure of the dataset, listing each field (column) and its contents or question topic.

Table 1: Survey Dataset Structure






Timestamp Date and time when the response was submitted.





Email address Email address of the respondent.





Age group Respondent's age group (e.g., 18–24, 25–34, etc.).





Gender Gender of the respondent (Female, Male, Prefer not to say).





Highest level of education Highest educational attainment of the respondent (High school or less; Bachelor’s/Master’s; Doctorate or above; Vocational; Prefer not to say).





Current job role Current job role or position of the respondent (Leadership/management; Professional/technical; Administrative/support; Sales/marketing; Student; Retired; Unemployed).





Sector Industry sector in which the respondent currently works (e.g., Technology, Healthcare, Finance, Education, Manufacturing, Public, Retail, Other).





Years of experience Number of years the respondent has been working in their current field.





AI knowledge Self-rated knowledge and understanding of AI technology (No knowledge; Beginner; Intermediate; Advanced; Expert).





Region Region (in Romania or EU) where the respondent currently resides.





AI familiarity Familiarity with the concept of AI in a business context (1 = Not very familiar, 10 = Very familiar).





AI improves operations Belief that AI can significantly improve business operations (1 = Strongly disagree, 10 = Strongly agree).





EU AI regulations too restrictive Opinion on whether current EU regulations on AI in business are too restrictive (1 = Strongly disagree, 10 = Strongly agree).





AI impact on job creation Perceived impact of AI on job creation in the EU (1 = Not important, 10 = Significantly positive).





AI job losses Expectation that AI will lead to job losses in the EU (1 = Definitely will not, 10 = Definitely will).





EU ethical AI leadership Belief that the EU is well-positioned to lead globally in ethical AI practices (1 = Strongly disagree, 10 = Strongly agree).





Data privacy regs effective Perception of how effectively EU regulations address data privacy concerns in AI (1 = Very ineffectively, 10 = Very effectively).





AI in decision-making stance Stance on AI’s role in business decision-making processes (1 = Fully oppose, 10 = Fully support).





Invest in AI education Support for investing more in AI education and workforce training (1 = Definitely no, 10 = Definitely yes).





AI creates new jobs Belief that AI can lead to new types of jobs not existing today (1 = Strongly do not believe, 10 = Strongly believe).





Transparency of AI processes Perception of how transparent AI-driven processes are in businesses (1 = Completely opaque, 10 = Completely transparent).





Confidence in AI data handling Confidence in AI’s ability to ethically handle sensitive data (1 = Not confident at all, 10 = Very confident).





AI widens SME gap Belief that AI technologies will widen the gap between large corporations and SMEs (1 = Strongly disagree, 10 = Strongly agree).





Future AI outlook (EU) Outlook on the future of AI in EU business over the next decade (1 = Extremely pessimistic, 5 = Extremely optimistic).





AI integration cost perception Perceived cost of integrating AI into operations for SMEs (1 = Very affordable, 10 = Extremely costly).





Primary motivation for AI adoption Primary motivation for adopting AI in the business (e.g., Improving efficiency; Customer experience; Competitive advantage; Cost reduction).





AI helps navigate uncertainties Belief that AI can help the business navigate market uncertainties more effectively (1 = Strongly disagree, 10 = Strongly agree).





Awareness of EU AI regulations Self-assessed understanding and awareness of EU AI regulations and their impact (1 = Not aware, 10 = Fully aware).





Challenges in data access for AI Whether the business has faced challenges in accessing or analyzing data for AI applications (Frequently; Occasionally; Rarely; Never; Not applicable).





AI critical for SME future Perceived criticality of AI in shaping future strategies and business models for SMEs (Extremely critical; Important; Somewhat important; Unimportant; Unsure).





Plan to invest in AI (1-2 yrs) Plan to invest in AI technologies or tools in the next 1–2 years (Yes, definitely; Considering; Unsure; Unlikely; No plans).





Support needed for AI adoption Type of support or resources perceived to most help SMEs adopt AI effectively (Financial grants; Training resources; Government policies; Technical assistance).





AI impact on job roles Perceived impact of AI on employee roles in the business (Create new roles; Augment existing roles; Replace certain roles; No significant impact; Unsure).





Workforce preparation for AI Whether any steps have been taken to prepare employees for an AI-integrated work environment (Yes, comprehensive training; Some initial steps; Planning to; No steps yet; Not applicable).





 

SURVEY CONTENT AND PURPOSE

The survey was designed to capture opinions on the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in business within the European Union context, especially regarding regulatory frameworks and workforce effects[2]. In Section A, respondents provided demographic information and their familiarity with AI. Section B gathered perceptions through 1–10 scale ratings on topics such as the benefits of AI for business operations, the strictness of EU AI regulations, and expectations about AI’s effect on jobs. For instance, participants rated their agreement with statements like “AI can significantly improve business operations” or whether “current EU regulations on AI in business are too restrictive,” reflecting their outlook on innovation versus regulation. Section C focused on real-world business perspectives: respondents identified primary motivations for adopting AI (e.g. improving efficiency or reducing costs) and indicated challenges or plans regarding AI implementation in their organizations. This structure addresses both the optimism around AI-driven innovation and the concerns about how AI may disrupt jobs or require new policies. Notably, all questions were bilingual (English/Romanian) to ensure clarity for local respondents – for example, a question on job role was presented as “What is your current professional role or position?” with the Romanian translation “Care este poziţia… dumneavoastră la serviciu?” side by side[1].

 

RATIONALE

AI technologies are rapidly transforming business processes and raising new questions about regulation and jobs. European public opinion reflects a mix of optimism and caution: 62% of Europeans view AI and robots favorably in the workplace, and 70% believe these technologies boost productivity[3]. At the same time, an overwhelming 84% insist on careful management of AI to protect privacy and transparency, and 82% support clear regulations for AI at work[4]. This survey’s rationale is to gather ground-level insights from professionals and students amid these developments. The timing coincides with major EU policy efforts – for example, the EU is finalizing its AI Act, a comprehensive law to ensure ethical AI deployment and accountability in Europe[5]. There are ongoing debates on whether current rules adequately address AI’s impact on the workforce[5]. By collecting opinions on regulatory strictness, needed training, and anticipated job impacts, the survey data can inform how well public sentiment aligns with regulatory initiatives. In short, the goal was to understand if business stakeholders feel prepared and supported in the EU’s AI-driven future, and where gaps (in awareness, skills, or policy) might remain.

 

DATA ANONYMIZATION AND AVAILABILITY

The dataset has been carefully anonymized to protect respondents’ privacy. No names or direct personal identifiers were collected. Email addresses (originally gathered via Google Forms for login/account verification) have been removed or masked in the public data file. Other fields are either categorical choices or numeric ratings, which aggregate personal information into broad categories (e.g. age group, sector) rather than specific details. Any free-text inputs (such as the city/region of residence) were general locations and do not include exact addresses or full names. All responses are stored in an aggregated format, and individual identities cannot be discerned.

The survey remains open and continues to accept responses, indicating an ongoing interest in the topic. The questionnaire can be accessed online via its Google Forms link (as of this writing, it is available at https://forms.gle/6uszxaJ3U9brpnAS7 ). This allows for potential future expansion of the dataset. Researchers or practitioners interested in AI’s business and workforce implications in the EU context may find this dataset valuable for analysis. The combination of bilingual survey design, mixed demographic and opinion data, and current relevance to EU AI policy makes the dataset a timely resource for understanding perspectives on AI adoption and regulation in a transitioning European workforce.




[1] [2] surveyAI in Business - EU Contextual Regulations and Future Workforce Impacts.docx

file://file-6PoB3PfCf3e5ctQ8utZmDG

[3] [4] New Eurobarometer Report: Europeans Support AI at Work but Call for Clear Regulations - CEPIS

https://cepis.org/new-eurobarometer-report-europeans-support-ai-at-work-but-call-for-clear-regulations/

[5]  European Union: Specific regulation of technological impact on the workforce ahead? - Baker McKenzie InsightPlus 

https://insightplus.bakermckenzie.com/bm/data-technology/european-union-specific-regulation-of-technological-impact-on-the-workforce-ahead