Young Americans turn wary as AI job fears grow

Young Americans are increasingly uneasy about artificial intelligence as concerns over job losses and uncertain career prospects grow, according to a recent nationwide survey. Fifty-five percent of adults under 30 were more worried than excited about the expanding use of AI, a significant shift from 39% in 2024. Nearly three-quarters of younger adults now expect AI to lead to fewer jobs in the United States over the next two decades.

Despite this anxiety, younger Americans remain active users of AI for various tasks, including education, research, writing, coding, and workplace activities. The growing unease is particularly pronounced among Generation Z, with a recent poll finding that 56% believe AI could speed up work, down from 66% in 2025, while the share believing it could boost learning dropped by seven points to 46%.

Weekly usage of AI remains common among younger people, even as their confidence in its broader benefits diminishes. Employment concerns are at the heart of this shift, with 71% of US adults now believing AI will produce fewer jobs in the next 20 years, up from 64% in 2024, while only 5% expect the technology to create more jobs.

Among those under 30, 73% anticipate a reduction in employment opportunities. These fears are fueled by a tougher job market for young workers, especially new graduates competing for white-collar positions. Studies on employment in occupations with high exposure to generative AI have shown that early-career workers often face poorer outcomes, though economists debate how much of this decline is directly due to AI.

Some research indicates that weakening trends in AI-exposed occupations started before the public launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, suggesting that slower hiring, remote-work patterns, and broader economic changes also play a role. Corporate adoption of AI is accelerating, with about 18% of US firms having adopted the technology by the end of 2025.

Workplace surveys show usage expanding most rapidly in technology, professional services, and other knowledge-intensive industries. Twenty-one percent of workers reported that AI performed at least some part of their jobs last year, up from 16% a year earlier. Employers are also adjusting staffing decisions, with some service companies reducing hiring due to AI while others expect automation to limit future recruitment.

While evidence of large-scale AI-driven job losses remains limited, with only 1% of laid-off workers citing AI as the primary reason for losing their jobs, 18% of employees believe AI or automation could eliminate their position within five years, rising to 23% among workers in AI-using organizations. Federal Reserve policymakers are closely monitoring the transition, as rapid automation could boost productivity but also disrupt employment, creating challenges that interest-rate policy alone may not address.

For younger workers, adaptation is becoming key to navigating this changing landscape, with AI literacy increasingly seen as a workplace requirement. Skills that are difficult to automate, such as interpersonal judgement, leadership, specialized expertise, and relationship-building, are gaining greater attention as employees seek protection against displacement.