Will AI Take Our Jobs? Global Survey Finds Deep Fear of Displacement

Introduction

Will artificial intelligence create more opportunities than it destroys, or will job losses arrive first? A new global survey from Pew Research suggests that public intuition is leaning strongly toward the latter. In 34 of the 37 countries surveyed, people were more likely to say AI would reduce employment over the next 20 years than create new jobs.

The survey questioned 42,151 people between February 8 and May 13, 2026. Because the fieldwork took place before the latest wave of apocalyptic warnings about AI, its results offer a useful snapshot of underlying public sentiment rather than a simple reaction to one news cycle.

Key findings

• Employment anxiety is widespread. Australia and South Korea recorded the highest reported concern in the material, at 76% each, followed by the United States at 71%. Worries were particularly pronounced in wealthier countries.
• Inequality is a central concern. Respondents were generally more likely to believe AI would widen the gap between rich and poor. This view was especially common in wealthier countries that lean left politically.
• Age shapes the response. Older people were more likely to worry about AI’s effects on everyday life. Adults aged 18 to 34 more often expressed mixed feelings, while anxiety among younger groups rose sharply over the past year in Sweden, Poland, Japan, Australia, Brazil, and the US.
• The mood is not uniformly pessimistic. A global median of 41% said they felt equally concerned and excited about AI’s growing presence in daily life. Another 37% were mainly concerned, while 13% were mainly excited.

Why it matters

The survey does not establish how many jobs AI will actually eliminate, nor does it break the issue down by profession or sector in the material provided. It does, however, show that public acceptance of AI is closely tied to economic security. People are not only asking whether machines can perform more tasks; they are asking who will absorb the cost of transition, who will receive the gains, and whether workers will have enough time and support to adapt.

For companies, presenting AI solely as a productivity tool may not be enough to build trust. Reskilling, transparent deployment policies, and support for affected workers could matter almost as much as model performance. For policymakers, the findings suggest that AI governance must extend beyond safety evaluations and innovation incentives to include labor protections, education, and distribution of income.

The response of younger adults is particularly important. They are not simply technological optimists or pessimists. They can see the opportunities AI may create while also facing uncertainty at the point where careers begin. The next phase of the AI race may therefore be judged not only by capability, but by whether societies believe its benefits will be shared fairly.

Source: The Verge AI