Goldman Sachs study finds AI starting to weigh on labor markets

A Goldman Sachs study published on August 19, 2026, reveals that artificial intelligence is beginning to weigh on labor markets in developed economies, particularly affecting entry-level workers and highly exposed industries like call centers, where U.S. employment has fallen 39% below trend. While developed nations lead with 15% to 20% AI adoption rates, a concurrent Pew Research Center survey shows that young American workers are increasingly skeptical of AI, fearing widespread job losses.

AI impact on labor markets

• ▪A Goldman Sachs study published on August 19, 2026, found that artificial intelligence is starting to weigh on labor markets across major developed economies.
• ▪The Goldman Sachs study found that across the broader labor market, a 10% occupational exposure to AI was associated with a 0.1 percentage point drag on annual headcount growth in France, Canada, and the United States.
• ▪The Goldman Sachs study found that industries with greater exposure to AI automation have generally seen slower job openings growth since the second half of 2022, particularly in Germany, Australia, and the United States.

Industry-specific employment trends

• ▪The Goldman Sachs study found that call center employment has fallen below historical trends by 39% in the United States, 33% in Canada, and 27% in Germany.
• ▪The Goldman Sachs study found that employment in information and communication services has slowed across nearly all major developed economies since 2022, though it remains near or above its long-run trend outside the United States.
• ▪The Goldman Sachs study found that employment in call centers, software publishing, management consulting, and advertising has fallen sharply below historical trends across developed markets.

Entry-level worker displacement

• ▪The Goldman Sachs study found that for entry-level workers, a 10% occupational exposure to AI was associated with an annual headcount growth drag ranging from over 0.2 percentage points in the United States to more than 0.6 percentage points in Australia.
• ▪The Goldman Sachs study analyzed over 800 occupations and found that AI-related employment headwinds were strongest among entry-level workers.

AI adoption rates across economies

• ▪Goldman Sachs analyzed 11 surveys and estimated that major developed economies have AI adoption rates of approximately 15% to 20%.
• ▪The Goldman Sachs study identified France, the United States, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom as leaders in AI adoption, while Italy, Japan, and New Zealand were at the lower end.
• ▪The Goldman Sachs study estimated that major emerging markets have AI adoption rates of between 10% and 15%.

Young worker attitudes toward AI

• ▪The Pew Research Center survey found that young workers in the United States fear that advances in artificial intelligence will lead to widespread job losses.
• ▪A Pew Research Center survey reported on August 19, 2026, found that the youngest members of the United States workforce are increasingly skeptical about artificial intelligence.

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