More U.S. workers are worried that technology could eventually make their jobs obsolete, with concern reaching its highest level since Gallup began tracking the question.
Gallup’s Work and Education survey found that 27% of U.S. workers now worry technology could make their jobs obsolete, up seven percentage points from last year and roughly double the 13% recorded in 2017.
Technology displacement has now become a bigger concern than several traditional threats to employment, including layoffs, reduced hours and lower wages.
Younger Workers Are Driving the Anxiety
The concern is particularly pronounced among workers under 45. Thirty-four percent of workers ages 18 to 44 worry technology could make their jobs obsolete, compared with 19% of workers 45 and older.
For younger workers, technology displacement now ranks alongside benefit reductions as their most common job concern. They also report greater concern about layoffs, reduced hours and wage cuts than older workers.
College Graduates Are Increasingly Worried
The education gap in technology-related job anxiety has also narrowed.
Twenty-five percent of college graduates now worry technology could make their jobs obsolete, up six points from last year. Among workers without college degrees, concern rose eight points to 29%.
That is a notable change from earlier years. In 2021, only 8% of college graduates expressed this concern. By 2023, that figure had climbed to 20% as generative AI tools began gaining widespread attention.
Traditional Job Fears Have Barely Moved
Workers’ concerns about more familiar threats have remained relatively stable.
Benefit reductions remain the most common concern at 33%, followed by layoffs at 24% and reduced hours and lower wages at 21% each. These figures are close to their long-term averages.
Technology displacement now exceeds three of those four concerns, putting job loss from technology alongside more familiar economic fears.
The growing concern comes as evidence of widespread AI-driven job losses remains limited. Gallup notes that AI’s overall effect on U.S. employment has so far been modest, although hiring appears weaker for entry-level and junior workers in occupations more exposed to AI.
