Pew: 34 of 37 countries expect AI to shrink jobs; US youth concern jumps to 55%
shashib · x · 2026-09-22
- The survey: Pew Research Center polled 42,151 adults across 36 countries (Feb 8–May 13, 2026, plus two U.S. waves), releasing "Globally, More People Expect AI to Cause Job Loss Than Growth" on Sep 17. In 34 of 37 countries, more people expect fewer jobs than more jobs; the median across 18 high-income countries is 55% vs 36% in middle-income ones (where 34% are unsure). Australia, South Korea, and the U.S. top the job-loss column at roughly 70%+.
- Young adults: Among Americans 18–34, those more concerned than excited rose from 40% (2024) to 55% (2026). Entry-level drafting, first-pass analysis, and synthesis are exactly what current tools absorb — junior hires need a named next rung, not a rollout that only celebrates the end of busywork.
- South Korea's paradox: It ranks high on expected job loss yet 61% are equally concerned and excited — a workforce accepts a hard labor story when the frame is national competitiveness, not personal convenience.
- Takeaways: Expectations, not a payroll forecast. The operational answer: keep a second skill current, treat college as the first block of study, plan on two or three career changes; employers should budget training certificates while people are still on payroll. Those who know the tools best both expect job loss and stay pragmatically optimistic.
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