McKinsey: About 11 Million US Workers May Need to Change Jobs by 2035 Due to AI

A new study from consulting firm McKinsey shows that over the next decade, the biggest challenge for US workers may not be an AI jobs disaster, but helping millions move into new roles. The report says about 11 million US workers may need to change jobs by 2035 because of AI, about 7% of the current workforce. In the past, about 215,000 people changed careers each year in the US. Over the next decade, that number could triple.

The report says 6 out of every 7 workers will need a lot of retraining, and many will also lose income. Even if many jobs are available, millions may still be unable to work if the new roles require different skills, qualifications, locations, or pay.

The full-time jobs most likely to require a switch are in office and administrative support, retail and sales, and transportation and logistics, including customer service representatives, cashiers, and warehouse workers. Low-income workers are nearly 8 times more likely to need to change jobs than high-income workers.

Because of uncertainty around how fast companies adopt AI, the report estimates that between 6 million and 16 million workers may ultimately need to change jobs.