McKinsey: AI will create more jobs than it kills — after destroying 11 million

A new report from the McKinsey Global Institute forecasts a significant shift in the U.S. labor market as artificial intelligence and automation change demand for workers.

Millions of jobs could be affected

The report estimates that AI and automation will reduce demand for about 36 million U.S. jobs by 2035. The projection covers roles whose demand could decline as these technologies alter how work is performed.

At the same time, employment growth in other areas is expected to generate about 41 million jobs. That outlook suggests the impact of technological change will extend beyond job losses, with expansion in other parts of the economy creating new opportunities.

Why the forecast matters

The figures point to a broad transition rather than a single-industry disruption. Businesses and workers may face changing employment needs as technology reduces demand in some roles while growth elsewhere increases it.

The report’s focus on future jobs, skills and pathways highlights the scale of the adjustment expected in the U.S. workforce. However, the figures describe projected changes in job demand and creation; they do not identify which specific occupations will account for all of the losses or gains.

The outlook through 2035

McKinsey’s forecast places AI and automation at the center of the next decade of workforce change. By 2035, the U.S. job market could reflect both reduced demand linked to automation and expanding opportunities in other areas.

The report provides a high-level view of that transition, with the balance of projected job reductions and growth indicating that employment effects will be distributed across the wider economy.