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Number of Workers Fearing Technological Replacement Surges to Highest Level on Record

While past concerns about tech-driven job loss were mainly among non-college-educated, AI is now resulting in similar concerns among college-educated employees.
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Number of Workers Fearing Technological Replacement Surges to Highest Level on Record
Writers hold signs while picketing in front of Paramount Studios in Los Angeles on May 15, 2023, as the strike by the Writers Guild of America enters its third week. The thousands of picketing writers say they are striking for better compensation in a field that has been disrupted by the streaming industry. Writers say they are looking for more stable working conditions and a better share of the profits generated by the rise of streaming. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
Bryan Jung
By Bryan Jung
9/14/2023Updated: 9/14/2023
0:00

Although most American workers are not concerned about being replaced by rapidly advancing technology, the amount of those who fear a trend has risen to its fastest rate ever.

Fear of becoming obsolete (FOBO) has grown more in the past two years than at any time in the history of the Gallup Poll that started in 2017.

According to Gallup on Sept. 11, 22 percent of workers fear that new technology will be used to replace them, up from 15 percent in 2021—a jump of 7 percentage points.

Previous polls on the topic held steady between 13 and 17 percent.

The polling organization reported that the current rise in FOBO is almost entirely amongst college-educated workers, which rose from 8 to 20 percent.

FOBO for workers without college degrees remained virtually unchanged at 24 percent since 2021.

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In the past, concerns about technological replacement were mainly limited to non-college-educated workers. But recent advancements are now resulting in a similar level of concern expressed among both groups.

“[W]hereas non-college-educated workers were previously much more concerned about technological replacement than college-educated workers, these groups now express similar levels of concern,” Gallup said.

Younger and Less Well Off Worry About Jobs

The gap between younger and older workers, as well as between those making less and more than $100,000 a year, continue to widen regarding concerns over career obsolescence.

FOBO increased only 2 percentage points among workers over 55 years of age but soared 11 points for those between 18 and 34.

Workers making less than $100,000 recorded a 10 point jump in FOBO, while those making over $100,000 saw a 5 point rise.

Concerns have risen equally among men and women, with both genders expressing a similar rise in fear between age groups.

Although the number of workers concerned over artificial intelligence (AI) and other technological advancements replacing their jobs rose 22 percent, a reduction in benefits remains the most common concern for employees.

Dirk Kaftan, general music director of the Beethoven Orchester Bonn perform on stage during the rehearsal for the world premiere of Beethoven's 10th symphony, completed by artificial intelligence in Bonn, Germany on Oct. 9, 2021. (Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)
Dirk Kaftan, general music director of the Beethoven Orchester Bonn perform on stage during the rehearsal for the world premiere of Beethoven's 10th symphony, completed by artificial intelligence in Bonn, Germany on Oct. 9, 2021. Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

Out of the six major concerns in the survey, only the fear that technology could threaten jobs has increased significantly since 2021.

The other five job fears remain well below their highs from after the Great Recession, between mid-2009 to mid-2013.

Still, FOBO remains well below loss of benefits and wage reduction as the top concern facing American workers. Those are major issues for roughly one in five workers, Gallup said.

Nearly a third or 31 percent of respondents said they were worried about losing their job benefits in the near future, followed by wage reductions at 24 percent.

Fears of being laid off stood at 20 percent and having hours cut back was a problem for 19 percent of workers—the lowest levels since the mid-2000s.

Offshoring was the least worrisome concern at 7 percent, the lowest in Gallup’s trend by one point.

Rise of AI Concerning College-Educated Americans

The results of the poll come as writers and actors complain about Hollywood studios’ use of artificial intelligence amid strikes and calls for regulations around the use of the technology.
As one of their key demands, the Writers Guild of America has called for studios to “regulate use of material produced using artificial intelligence or similar technologies” in television and movie productions.

After the release of ChatGPT last November showed the ability of AI to mimic human language, many workers are increasingly concerned about what computers can do in the workplace.

Aidan Meller looks at a painting by Ai-Da Robot, an ultra-realistic humanoid robot artist, during a press call at The British Library in London, England on April 4, 2022 . (Hollie Adams/Getty Images)
Aidan Meller looks at a painting by Ai-Da Robot, an ultra-realistic humanoid robot artist, during a press call at The British Library in London, England on April 4, 2022 . Hollie Adams/Getty Images

Instead of just robots supplanting humans in warehouses and on assembly lines, technological change has expanded to mean that AI software is now able to conduct some sophisticated online tasks, such writing computer code.

Although the minority of workers see an imminent threat to their jobs, most are no more worried today about their work than they were two years ago, as many remain positive about the U.S. labor market.

“Despite the technological advancements made in the last five years, human creativity will always be in demand. While some jobs will be replaced by AI, others will be created. Employees who fear becoming obsolete should actually be encouraged," Andrew Crapuchettes, CEO of hiring website RedBalloon, told the Epoch Times.
“These kinds of advancements will help people elevate their skills to find more meaningful work and not just waste away doing meaningless toil,” he added.
Bryan Jung
Bryan Jung
Author
Bryan S. Jung is a native and resident of New York City with a background in politics and the legal industry. He graduated from Binghamton University.
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Related Topics
gallup poll
Artifical Intelligence
Fear of becoming obsolete
career obsolescence
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