In 34 of 37 countries, more people expect artificial intelligence to cost jobs than to create them. That is the headline of a Pew Research Center survey of 42,151 adults in 36 countries, fielded from February to May 2026, plus two separate U.S. samples.

In Pew's words: "In 34 of 37 countries Pew Research Center surveyed earlier this year, people tend to believe AI will lead to fewer jobs rather than more jobs."

In the United States, about seven in ten adults expect job losses, a figure that has risen over two years. Similar shares hold in Australia and South Korea. In several countries — Canada, France, Singapore, Sweden and India among them — adults under 35 are more likely than those over 50 to expect fewer jobs. In middle-income countries, the pessimism rises with education and income. Germany is part of the sample.

The survey measures expectations about the economy, and for anyone running an AI program those expectations walk into the training room. A participant who believes the tool is there to replace them learns differently from one who expects it to make their work better.

Other research shows what can shift that. Gallup's 2026 data on U.S. workers found that employees whose managers actively supported AI use were far more engaged than those without that support — 48 percent against 30 percent. The manager's role carried more weight than access to the tool.

The age pattern deserves attention. Younger employees are the ones expected to adopt AI fastest, and in many countries they are also the most worried about what it means for their jobs.

Talent Takeaway

Before the first AI training, ask the room what they expect the technology to do to their jobs. Then say plainly what the organization intends — which tasks change, which roles are safe, what support comes with it. People learn a new tool faster when they know where they stand.

Read the original at Pew Research Center

Sources

Silver, L., Wike, R., Fagan, M., & Lippert, J. (2026, September 17). Globally, more people expect AI to cause job loss than growth. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2026/09/17/globally-more-people-expect-ai-to-cause-job-loss-than-growth/

Harter, J. (2026, July 21). Employee engagement remains flat as AI adoption accelerates. Gallup. https://www.gallup.com/workplace/712433/employee-engagement-remains-flat-adoption-accelerates.aspx