Tech Job Fears Rising Among U.S. Workers
Key Points:
- 27% of U.S. workers are worried that technology might make their jobs unnecessary.
- The level of concern among college graduates has significantly increased since 2021.
- Workers under 45 are particularly anxious about technology replacing their jobs.
In a recent survey, it was found that 27% of American workers are worried about technology potentially taking over their jobs, marking a higher level of concern than ever before. This number has jumped seven points since last year and is nearly double the 13% reported when this question was first asked in 2017.
This growing fear contrasts with the generally stable concerns over traditional job insecurities, such as layoffs or wage cuts. These findings come from a comprehensive survey conducted between August 3 and August 24.
Worries Among College Graduates and Non-Graduates
There has been a notable rise in anxiety regarding job displacement due to technology among both college graduates and those without degrees. The concern among college graduates has gone up six points to 25%, while non-college graduates’ worries have risen eight points to 29%. This shift in perception is relatively new, as historically, college graduates were less anxious about this risk compared to their non-graduate counterparts. However, with the emergence of advanced AI tools like ChatGPT, the anxiety level among college grads has surged, from 8% in 2021 to 20% in 2023.
Generational Differences in Job Anxiety
Interestingly, there is a significant difference in worry levels between younger and older workers. In previous years, both age groups expressed similar concerns about technology making their jobs obsolete. However, that has changed in recent times; now, 34% of younger workers (ages 18 to 44) are worried, while only 19% of older workers (ages 45 and above) share that concern.
Steady Concerns Over Traditional Job Threats
While technological fears have increased, worries about more traditional employment issues like benefit cuts have remained stable. A total of 33% of workers are concerned about losing benefits, 24% are worried about layoffs, and 21% about reduced hours or lower wages. These traditional job concerns have tracked with economic conditions over the years, peaking during tough times but remaining consistent recently.
Younger Workers Show Broader Job Anxiety
In this latest survey, younger workers showed more anxiety across several job threats compared to their older peers, except for concerns about benefit cuts. Importantly, technological displacement is now as significant a worry as losing benefits among younger workers, with 34% fearing job loss due to technology and 32% anxious about benefits being reduced. Among older workers, benefit cuts are still the primary concern at 34%.
Conclusion
Overall, while the fear of technology making jobs obsolete is not overwhelmingly felt, the trend is upward, especially among younger and college-educated workers. This suggests that even those who once felt secure in their jobs are beginning to feel the impact of technological advancements. While current data shows a steady job market, concerns about potential future job losses due to AI continue to grow. How employers choose to navigate these technological changes will be crucial in determining the validity of workers’ fears.
