In 34 of 37 countries surveyed, people tend to believe AI will lead to fewer jobs rather than more over the next 20 years, Pew Research Center reported on 17 September [1].
Concern ran highest in wealthier countries. In Australia, South Korea and the US, around seven in ten adults or more said AI will result in job losses [1].
In the US, the only country where Pew asked the question before, that share rose 7 percentage points in two years [1].
What it measures
The views of adults in each country. Pew surveyed 42,151 people in 36 countries from 8 February to 13 May 2026, and 5,119 and 3,488 US adults in two surveys in February and June [1].
In many countries about a fifth of adults or more said they were unsure how AI would affect jobs, rising to around four in ten in some middle-income countries [1].
In several countries, including Canada, France, India and Indonesia, adults aged 18 to 34 were more likely than those aged 50 and over to expect job losses [1].
What it does not tell you
What will actually happen to jobs. The survey measures what people expect, not employment [1].
Why people hold these views. The report compares groups; it does not test causes [1].
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