Beyond the fear: What global data says about AI supporting, not replacing jobs
As AI and automation reshape the world of work, a quiet anxiety is sweeping across sectors, fuelled by fears of job loss and uncertainty about the future. With tightening pressure, employees, regardless of age or industry, are grappling with rising stress and mental fatigue. In such a moment of emotional vulnerability, while upskilling and reskilling for the workforce are essential, without a clear roadmap, they alone may not be enough to ease these fears.
What's needed to sustain workforce trust isn't just speculation, but data-backed insights and credible research, evidence that shows AI isn't a threat to jobs, but a powerful tool for growth and evolution.
Building confidence with data-driven insights
To restore the confidence of today's demoralised workforce, many of whom fear being replaced by AI, we've gathered key global reports that present evidence-based insights. These findings show that AI isn't here to take over jobs, but to create new opportunities and reshape the future of work for the better.
#Insight 1: 38% rise in AI-exposed jobs, 56% wage premium for AI-skilled workers
A recent
PWC 2025 Global AI Jobs Barometer
, analysing nearly a billion job ads across six continents, reveals that AI is boosting worker value, productivity, and wage potential, with job numbers rising by 38% between 2019 and 2024 in the AI-exposed roles.
According to the report, since the rise of GenAI in 2022, productivity in AI-exposed sectors has surged from 7% in 2018-2022 to 27% by 2024. It also revealed that AI-skilled workers earned an average wage premium of 56% in 2024, which was more than double the 25% premium from the previous year, defying widespread fears of job losses. In 2025, this number will continue to grow.
#Insight 2: 1 in 4 jobs are highly exposed to AI, but not at risk of elimination
A recently released joint study titled 'Generative AI and jobs: A refined global index of occupational exposure' by the
International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Poland's National Research Institute (NASK)
reveals that one in four jobs worldwide is highly exposed to AI.
Surprisingly, the study emphasises this exposure as a transformation rather than a replacement of jobs. It highlights that complete automation in many sectors remains limited, with human involvement continuing to play a central role in maintaining efficiency.
#Insight 3: $4.4 trillion productivity potential, but only with people at the centre
McKinsey's recent insights on generative AI
underscore that generative AI could deliver as much as $4.4 trillion in global productivity gains annually. But beyond the numbers, a quieter revolution is underway, one that shifts the focus from machine dominance to human enablement.
Realising this potential, many companies are investing in reskilling, change management, and employee support systems that are better positioned to unlock AI's full value.
#Insight 4: 72% of enterprises adopting AI, 40% jump in efficiency with strategic use
Deloitte Global's 2025 predictions report, '
Generative AI: Paving the Way for a Transformative Future
', also presents a forward-looking analysis of how AI is not just automating tasks but enhancing human decision-making, fostering new business models, and increasing efficiency in dynamic work environments.
With 72% of global enterprises already embracing AI-led transformations, the report further points to the rise of new roles focused on AI governance, ethics, and collaboration between humans and machines.
Interestingly, companies that use AI strategically have seen up to a 40% jump in operational efficiency, showing that when done right, AI isn't just a tool, it's a foundation for workplace resilience.
AI is a partner, not a replacement
As change remains a constant force, it's important to recognise that AI as a revolution has just superseded the conventional method of working, bringing innovation and development to technology, while retaining the essential role of human judgement and creativity. With the right training and increased awareness, the fear of job loss can shift into optimism about thriving in an AI-driven world.
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