A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 53% of Americans fear artificial intelligence could cost them or someone in their household a job. The findings come as companies ramp up AI investments while trimming their workforces, fueling concern across demographics.

AI Adoption and Job Losses

Anxiety about job losses was consistent across age, gender, and education levels, though Democrats were more likely than Republicans to express concern. The six-day poll of 4,531 U.S. adults nationwide followed a wave of AI-related job cuts by major companies.

Software firm Intuit told staff last month it would lay off 17% of its global workforce to streamline operations and sharpen focus on its key bets, including its AI efforts. An April Challenger, Gray & Christmas report found U.S. employers announced 60,620 layoffs in March, and AI adoption was the primary reason behind a quarter of the cuts.

Impact on Young Job Seekers

Young job seekers are having a hard time obtaining entry-level jobs. A Cengage Group survey found 76% of employers reported hiring for fewer or the same number of entry-level roles in 2025, up from 69% in 2024. A Federal Reserve Bank of New York study found 42% of recent college graduates are “underemployed,” the highest level since 2020, meaning they are working jobs that don’t typically require a college degree.

Peter Watkins, senior director of university programs at the CFA Institute, previously told USA TODAY that AI is playing a role in tightened hiring. “If firms are looking to make resource reductions, AI starts to become a solution for that, whereas in another economic climate, they’d probably be using it more in terms of innovation and growth,” Watkins said.

Original reporting: Las Cruces Sun News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.