Worker Anxiety Over Artificial Intelligence Has Surged

A new Gallup survey reveals that 27% of American workers now fear their jobs could be made obsolete by technology.

Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Employment

Isometric editorial illustration of a solitary office chair and desk lamp, symbolizing the unease of American workers regarding technological changes. — A new Gallup survey indicates that 27% of U.S. workers now fear their jobs could be replaced by artificial intelligence, marking a significant rise in professional anxiety. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Recent data shows a sharp increase in anxiety among U.S. workers regarding the impact of technology on job security. A Gallup survey indicates that 27% of employees are now worried their roles will become obsolete, a seven-percentage-point increase from the prior year.

Why it matters

The rising apprehension reflects growing unease about the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence in workplaces nationwide. Many Americans express significantly more concern than excitement about how these tools will affect their daily lives and professional futures.

Current worker concern is nearly double the level recorded in 2017, while 71% of U.S. adults now believe AI will reduce available jobs over the next two decades. Conversely, only 5% of adults believe the technology will create more employment opportunities.

The players

Gallup

Gallup is an American analytics and advisory company known for its public opinion polls and workplace research.

Pew Research Center

Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that provides information on social issues, public opinion, and demographic trends.

The details

The anxiety is increasingly shared by highly educated professionals, with concern among college graduates jumping from 8% in 2021 to 20% in 2023. Generative AI tools have moved into mainstream office use, fueling fears that machines will eventually take over complex tasks currently performed by people.

2017: Gallup first measured worker concern regarding job obsolescence.
2021: Gallup measured college graduate concern at 8 percent.
2023: Gallup measured college graduate concern at 20 percent.
2024: 64 percent of adults believed AI would reduce jobs.
Next 20 years: Period in which AI is expected to impact jobs.

Macro View

The current spike in anxiety mirrors historical economic shifts where new technological paradigms have disrupted traditional labor markets. While earlier cycles were centered on industrial automation, this era is defined by widespread concern regarding generative AI's impact on cognitive tasks.

Employees may face increased pressure to adapt to AI-assisted workflows to maintain job relevance in their respective industries. Households should anticipate that concerns over job security could influence long-term career planning and educational investments.

The takeaway

Workers should focus on developing skills that emphasize human-centric problem solving to complement, rather than compete with, new technology. Understanding that AI is currently expected to act as an assistant for productivity may help alleviate some immediate professional anxiety.