More Americans worry technology could make their jobs obsolete: Gallup
More Americans are worried technology could make their jobs obsolete in the near future, compared to two years ago, according to a new survey.
The Gallup poll found 22 percent of U.S. workers surveyed fear their jobs could become obsolete soon due to technology, which is up 7 points since 2021. Concerns among college graduates have jumped the most, from 8 percent to 20 percent in the past two years.
Among those without a college degree, 24 percent said they are worried, virtually unchanged from the earlier polling, Gallup found.
As a result, those with a college degree and without one now have roughly equal levels of concern. In the past, those without a college degree were much more likely to be concerned technology could render their jobs useless.
Pollsters noted the fear has increased in the new survey among younger workers and those making less than $100,000. Men and women reported similar levels of concern over their jobs.
While workers are still concerned technology, like artificial intelligence, could take over their jobs, their top concern is losing their benefits, according to the poll. This concern was reported by 31 percent of respondents.
Almost a quarter of those surveyed — 24 percent — said they worried about having their wages cut.
Being replaced by technology was the third on the list of concerns, followed by 20 percent being concerned about layoffs and 19 percent worried their hours will be cut back. The least-reported concern among workers was being relocated overseas, the poll found.
The poll was conducted Aug. 1-23 among 491 adults who are employed part time or full time, and its margin of error is 5 percentage points.
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