Archive · 3 Sep 2026
Young Americans Fear AI Will Reduce Future Job Opportunities
Pew Research Center asked Americans what they think artificial intelligence will do to jobs.
Most adults said AI may lead to fewer jobs during the next 20 years.
Young adults were especially worried, with 73% giving that answer.
This number was 61% among young adults in 2024.
Only a small share of adults thought AI would create more jobs.
Many young people use AI tools, but they worry the tools could make creativity and human connection harder.
They may also be concerned that AI will reduce the entry-level jobs people use to start careers.
Older and more experienced workers were somewhat more positive about AI, even though many still expected fewer jobs.
A Pew Research Center survey found 73% of Americans aged 18-29 expect AI to reduce jobs over the next 20 years, up from 61% in 2024.
Overall, 71% of U.S. adults expect AI to produce fewer jobs, while 5% foresee more employment and 10% expect little impact.
For the first time since tracking began in 2021, most Americans under 30 said they were more worried than excited about AI.
Younger adults are frequent AI users but worry the technology could hurt creativity, social connection and entry-level work opportunities.
A separate Pew report found about 60% of U.S. adults identify as working class, including roughly half of college graduates and upper-income Americans.
- Who
- U.S. adults, especially those aged 18-29, surveyed by the Pew Research Center.
- What
- A survey found that most Americans expect artificial intelligence to reduce the number of jobs over the next 20 years.
- When
- The survey was conducted June 22-28 and published August 18; the year is not specified in the article.
- Where
- The United States.
- Why
- Respondents were assessing how artificial intelligence could affect employment, society, creativity and human connection.
AI Concerns
AI Optimism
Effect on employment and society
AI Concerns
Many Americans, particularly younger adults, expect AI to reduce job opportunities and believe it could make creativity and human connection harder.
AI Optimism
People with greater experience and established careers are becoming increasingly positive about AI, suggesting some workers may benefit from the technology.
Effect on personal creativity
AI Concerns
Young adults are just as likely to say chatbots hurt their own creativity as to say they help it.
AI Optimism
Young adults are among the most comfortable and frequent users of AI tools, indicating that some remain willing to use the technology despite their concerns.
- Young adults expecting fewer jobs
- 73% of U.S. adults aged 18-29, compared with 61% in 2024.
- All adults expecting fewer jobs
- 71%, up from 64% in 2024.
- Expecting more jobs
- 5% of U.S. adults.
- Expecting little impact
- 10% of U.S. adults.
- Views among older adults
- 74% of adults aged 30-49, 72% aged 50-64 and 63% aged 65 and older expect fewer jobs.
- Young adults’ overall attitude
- For the first time since Pew began tracking views in 2021, most adults under 30 were more worried than excited about AI.
- Separate working-class finding
- About 60% of U.S. adults identify as working class; roughly half of college graduates and upper-income Americans do so as well.