Global Pew Research Center Survey Reveals High-Income Countries Lead the World in AI Job Loss Concerns

Across the globe, public perception of artificial intelligence is overwhelmingly shadowed by anxiety over future employment, according to a comprehensive multinational study released by the Pew Research Center. The survey, which polled over 42,000 adults across 37 countries, reveals that in 34 of the surveyed nations, significantly more people anticipate that artificial intelligence will destroy jobs rather than create them over the next two decades. This sentiment is particularly pronounced in wealthier, high-income economies, where high levels of technological awareness correlate directly with deep-seated economic apprehension.

The findings illuminate a stark global divide in how emerging technologies are understood and feared. While technological optimists often promote artificial intelligence as an unprecedented engine for productivity and innovation, everyday citizens—especially in developed markets—are bracing for widespread labor market disruption. As governments, policymakers, and corporate leaders grapple with the rapid integration of machine learning systems into the global workforce, public skepticism remains a formidable hurdle for the technology sector.

Comprehensive Global Survey Uncovers Deep-Seated Employment Anxiety

Published on September 17, the Pew Research Center report aggregates responses from 42,151 adults surveyed between February 8 and May 13 across 36 countries, alongside complementary data from two separate surveys conducted in the United States. Across all 37 nations included in the final analysis, a striking median of 46% of respondents stated that artificial intelligence will lead to fewer jobs in their respective countries over the next 20 years. Conversely, a mere 9% believed AI would generate job growth, while 25% remained undecided or unsure.

The data exposes a distinct economic fault line. In high-income countries, a median of 55% of adults predict net job losses due to artificial intelligence. In contrast, this figure drops to a median of 36% across middle-income nations. Furthermore, uncertainty is far more prevalent in developing and middle-income economies, where a median of 34% of respondents reported being unsure about AI’s employment impact, compared to just 22% in wealthier nations. Analysts attribute this uncertainty to a corresponding gap in technological exposure and public discourse surrounding machine learning applications.

The country-by-country breakdown highlights intense pessimism in several major economies. Australia and South Korea recorded the highest shares of respondents anticipating job contraction, with 76% in both nations expressing this view. The United States followed closely behind at 71%, a notable increase from the 64% recorded in a prior Pew survey conducted in August 2024. Meanwhile, Singapore emerged as a notable outlier: despite boasting a GDP per capita approaching $100,000, only 46% of Singaporean respondents expected AI to reduce job opportunities.

The Chronology of Public Sentiment and Technological Awareness

Public awareness of artificial intelligence has evolved rapidly over recent years, driven by the explosive public rollout of generative AI tools, large language models, and automated workplace solutions. The Pew study traces how this growing familiarity shapes public opinion.

A median of 50% of adults living in high-income nations reported having heard or read a lot about artificial intelligence. In middle-income countries, that figure drops sharply to a median of 27%. The research team identified a strong statistical correlation of 0.74 between a nation’s GDP per capita and its citizens’ level of AI awareness. Nationally, self-reported awareness ranged dramatically from a high of 56% in Japan to a low of just 4% in Bangladesh.

Longitudinal comparisons underscore a steady upward trajectory in public familiarity. Among the 25 countries surveyed in both the current study and previous iterations, the share of adults reporting significant awareness of AI rose in 11 nations. Nigeria experienced the most dramatic surge, jumping 14 percentage points in public awareness over the period.

However, increased awareness does not necessarily breed comfort. In approximately half of the surveyed countries, individuals who reported hearing a lot about artificial intelligence were more likely to predict job losses than those with lower awareness levels. Conversely, respondents with limited exposure were consistently more likely to express uncertainty, leading researchers to conclude that public opinion on artificial intelligence is still actively taking shape in many parts of the world.

Socioeconomic Disparities, Inequality, and Daily Life

Beyond direct employment fears, the Pew Research Center report examined broader societal concerns, including economic inequality and the integration of artificial intelligence into daily routines.

In high-income countries, a median of 35% of respondents expressed concern that artificial intelligence will widen the existing wealth gap between the rich and the poor. In middle-income countries, that figure stood at 22%. When asked about the growing presence of AI in daily life, a median of 40% of adults in wealthier nations reported feeling more concerned than excited, compared to 31% in middle-income nations.

Interestingly, the report notes that overall feelings of concern versus excitement are less rigidly tied to a nation’s GDP per capita than specific anxieties regarding employment and wealth disparity. For instance, South Korea—despite ranking at the very top of countries anticipating job losses—demonstrated nuanced sentiment: only 18% of South Korean respondents stated they were more concerned than excited, while a decisive 61% reported feeling equally concerned and excited about the technology’s trajectory.

Economic Implications and Expert Analysis

The correlation between national wealth and negative expectations regarding artificial intelligence has sparked substantial debate among economists, sociologists, and industry analysts. Statistical analysis within the report reveals a correlation coefficient of 0.60 between a country’s GDP per capita and the proportion of its population expecting job contraction.

Economists emphasize that correlation does not imply direct causation; national wealth does not inherently cause pessimism, but rather reflects structural differences in labor markets. High-income economies often feature a higher concentration of white-collar, administrative, and knowledge-based jobs that are frequently perceived as vulnerable to automation through generative AI and algorithmic processing. Middle-income economies, by contrast, may face different immediate economic pressures, such as industrial transitions or infrastructural development, which can dilute the perceived threat of advanced software systems.

Furthermore, the findings carry significant implications for corporate strategists, marketers, and policymakers. While high-income nations display elevated awareness and higher expectations of job disruption, these metrics primarily measure macroeconomic sentiment rather than consumer receptiveness to specific commercial products. Prior research, including Pew’s June survey on U.S. chatbot utilization, indicates that while approximately half of American adults actively use AI chatbots, societal skepticism regarding the broader ethical and social impacts of the technology remains firmly entrenched.

Looking Ahead: Policy Challenges and Global Governance

As artificial intelligence continues to permeate global industries, the findings from the Pew Research Center underscore a critical communication and policy challenge for governments and technology developers. The profound disparity in awareness and sentiment between high-income and middle-income nations highlights the risk of a fractured global technological landscape.

For developed economies, where public anxiety is acute and labor market disruptions are actively anticipated, policymakers face mounting pressure to introduce robust workforce retraining programs, strengthen social safety nets, and establish transparent regulatory frameworks. Ensuring that the economic gains generated by artificial intelligence are distributed equitably will be essential to mitigating public distrust.

In middle-income and developing nations, where public opinion remains fluid and uncertainty is high, the coming years will likely witness a rapid evolution in technological awareness as digital infrastructure expands. How these societies integrate artificial intelligence into their economies will depend heavily on education, proactive governance, and the extent to which citizens perceive the technology as an inclusive tool for human advancement rather than an engine for displacement.