Pew: More Expect AI to Cut Jobs Than Create Them
▼ Summary
– A Pew Research Center survey of 37 countries reveals that a median of 46% of adults expect AI to reduce jobs over the next two decades, while only 9% anticipate job growth.
– High-income countries show significantly higher expectations of job loss compared to middle-income nations, with a strong correlation between GDP per capita and these concerns.
– Awareness of AI is also more prevalent in wealthy nations, where 50% of adults report hearing a lot about the technology versus 27% in middle-income countries.
– While higher awareness correlates with optimism about AI’s daily life applications, it does not necessarily reduce fears regarding economic inequality or overall job displacement.
– The study highlights distinct regional variations, with Australia and South Korea showing the highest fear of job losses, whereas Singapore is noted as an outlier due to its high wealth but moderate concern levels.
A global survey conducted by Pew Research Center reveals a pervasive skepticism regarding the impact of artificial intelligence on employment. Across 34 of 37 countries analyzed, the majority of respondents anticipate that AI will result in a net loss of jobs over the next two decades rather than creating new opportunities. The findings, published on September 17, highlight a significant divergence in public sentiment based on national wealth levels, with citizens in affluent nations expressing far greater anxiety about workforce displacement than those in developing economies.
The study compiled data from 42,151 adults across 36 nations between February 8 and May 13, with additional figures for the United States drawn from separate surveys. Globally, a median of 46% of participants believe AI will reduce job availability, while only 9% expect an increase in employment. A substantial portion, 25%, remain uncertain about the outcome. This pessimism is not uniformly distributed; it correlates strongly with economic status. In high-income countries, a median of 55% foresee fewer jobs, compared to just 36% in middle-income nations. Conversely, uncertainty is more prevalent in developing markets, where 34% of respondents are unsure, versus 22% in wealthier states.
Economic Status Drives Pessimism
The relationship between national wealth and job-related fears is statistically significant. When comparing each country’s results against its GDP per capita, researchers found a correlation coefficient of 0.60. Nations with higher average incomes consistently report higher expectations of job losses. Australia and South Korea lead this trend, with 76% of adults in each country predicting a reduction in employment. The United States follows closely at 71%, an increase from the 64% recorded in August 2024.
Singapore presents an interesting deviation from this pattern. Despite having a GDP per capita nearing $100,000, only 46% of Singaporeans expect fewer jobs, leading the report to classify it as an outlier. It is crucial to understand that a correlation does not imply causation; the data suggests that wealthier populations simply exhibit higher levels of concern, but it does not prove that national prosperity directly causes this pessimism.
Awareness and Education Levels
Higher income levels also correlate with greater familiarity with artificial intelligence technologies. A median of 50% of adults in high-income countries report having heard or read a lot about AI, compared to 27% in middle-income regions. This awareness gap shows a strong correlation of 0.74 with GDP per capita. Awareness levels vary drastically by region, ranging from 56% in Japan down to just 4% in Bangladesh.
Interestingly, knowledge of AI tends to deepen concerns about employment. In approximately half of the surveyed countries, individuals with high awareness are more likely to predict job losses than those with limited knowledge. However, this dynamic shifts when examining broader societal impacts. On questions regarding AI’s role in daily life, people with higher awareness often express more optimism. While 35% of adults in high-income countries worry that AI will widen the inequality gap between rich and poor (versus 22% in middle-income countries), emotional responses to AI’s integration into daily life are less tied to economic status. In high-income nations, 40% feel more concerned than excited, compared to 31% in middle-income countries.
Regional Nuances and Future Trends
Public sentiment varies significantly even within similar economic brackets. For instance, while South Koreans are among the most likely to expect job losses, their emotional response to AI is more balanced. Only 18% say they are more concerned than excited, while 61% report feeling equally concerned and excited. This suggests that fear of unemployment does not necessarily translate to general dread of the technology itself.
The landscape of AI awareness is shifting rapidly. In 11 of the 25 countries surveyed last year, the share of adults who have heard a lot about AI has risen, with Nigeria showing the largest jump of 14 percentage points. Middle-income countries continue to show the highest levels of uncertainty regarding AI’s effect on jobs, indicating that public opinion is still forming. These insights provide marketers and policymakers with a snapshot of how perceptions differ globally, though they do not dictate consumer behavior toward specific products or services. As awareness grows, particularly in emerging markets, the narrative around AI’s economic impact may continue to evolve.
(Source: Search Engine Journal)
