McKinsey research shows AI creating more jobs than automation displaces — but 11 million American workers will need help this decade
While debates about AI’s impact on the workforce dominate headlines, the biggest challenge ahead will be helping workers find the most direct pathway into growing jobs.
TL;DR
- The U.S. economy is expected to have more jobs by 2035, but the job mix will change, requiring many workers to retrain or earn credentials.
- Approximately 11 million Americans may need to switch from shrinking occupations to entirely different ones, at a rate 3.6 times higher than historical norms.
- The primary barrier to transitioning into growing jobs is often the cost and time associated with acquiring necessary credentials, such as degrees or certifications.
- Employers and institutions play a crucial role in making pathways to growing jobs more accessible by hiring on demonstrated skills, dropping unnecessary degree screens, and building apprenticeships.
- Government and educational institutions can support these transitions through incentives, modular credentials, and backward-designed training programs.