AI could perform more than half of US work hours by 2035, according to research from the McKinsey Global Institute. Technological and economic changes could reduce demand for workers by the equivalent of 36 million jobs. However, economic growth, including AI-related businesses and services, could create demand for about 41 million jobs. This means the country could have more jobs overall.
The difficulty is matching workers’ skills to changing roles. In management and law, AI is more likely to support people than replace them. Workers may need training to check AI’s output and use it responsibly. Around 80% of office and administrative support hours could be automated, but this does not mean the same share of jobs will disappear. About 11 million Americans may need to change occupations.
Around 85% of growing jobs require formal qualifications or certificates. Companies could give more weight to practical skills and experience. McKinsey recommends measuring workers’ progress and internal job moves, rather than focusing only on savings. Businesses should also examine whether time saved through AI supports better service, new ideas or more complex work.
