The introduction of AI tools like ChatGPT has sparked debates about their impact on employment. While some fear job losses, others see potential for new opportunities. But what does the data say? Despite widespread speculation, concrete evidence in the U.S. remains limited.
A sociologist, who studies AI, sought to explore these concerns through a survey conducted by YouGov. This survey gathered insights from 1,250 U.S. workers between July 30 and August 4, 2026, focusing on their interactions with AI and its perceived effects on employment opportunities. The study is ongoing and has not yet undergone peer review.
Findings from the survey, conducted four years after ChatGPT’s launch in November 2022, indicate that AI’s impact on jobs has been less significant than expected. Contrary to the predictions of both AI critics and advocates, there hasn’t been a significant wave of job losses or creations attributed to AI.
Approximately 3% of respondents reported losing a job due to AI since 2023, while 6% found employment in roles that emerged with AI’s rise. About 9% experienced career advancement thanks to AI-related skills.
These statistics may surprise AI skeptics who expected higher rates of job displacement. It also suggests that AI-related employment changes have been relatively rare since 2023.
Limited Impact So Far
The YouGov survey sampled a diverse group of employed U.S. adults, representing various demographics like age, gender, race, and education. It included three key questions about AI’s effect on employment since 2023:
Survey Questions
1. Have you lost a job due to AI, such as automation of your previous tasks?
2. Have you secured a new job that emerged with AI, like AI data labeler or compliance specialist?
3. Have you been promoted or advanced because of your AI skills?
Responses showed that 95% of workers hadn’t lost a job due to AI, 90% hadn’t obtained a new AI-related job, and 88% hadn’t been promoted due to AI. A small percentage, between 3% and 4%, were uncertain about experiencing AI-related job changes. These figures may slightly exceed 100% due to rounding.
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Implications
The survey results align with other U.S. research and international findings that suggest AI’s current labor market impact is limited. Given that job changes are uncommon in the U.S., the minor percentage of AI-related employment shifts should be viewed within this context.
AI appears to be aiding job promotions and career advancements more than displacing workers, according to survey participants. However, the longevity of this advantage remains uncertain. The rise of Agentic AI, which can autonomously perform tasks, might eventually devalue current AI skills.
While this survey provides a snapshot of AI’s reported effects on jobs, it doesn’t conclusively identify AI as the cause for employment changes. Conducted during a time when the unemployment rate was 4.1% and the workforce was contracting, with AI cited as a leading cause of layoffs, it reflects the challenges of gauging AI’s precise impact.
Participants in the YouGov survey resemble average U.S. workers, though their experiences with AI might not be representative due to self-selection bias. They were employed, regardless of AI’s influence, and their perspectives might differ from those who were randomly selected. This study offers insights beyond economic forecasts and AI company analyses by directly asking workers about their AI experiences. Unlike some research and AI job loss trackers, this study investigates both job losses and gains.
Questions remain about AI’s influence on career trajectories, such as who benefits from promotions and how AI is being used to advance careers. The ongoing analysis of the survey data aims to address these inquiries.
