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Young adults in the U.S. are increasingly wary of AI, concerned it will take jobs

Pew Research Center's short read reports a June 2026 survey of 3,488 US adults: 71% expect AI to lead to fewer jobs over the next 20 years, up from 64% in 2024, including 73% of those under 30 (61% in 2024). 52% are more concerned than excited about AI in daily life, up from 37% in 2021.

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Why it matters

The same thing, for different readers.

What it means for you

Most Americans, including 73% of those under 30, expect AI to mean fewer jobs over the next 20 years; these are expectations, not a count of jobs lost.

For lawmakers

Expectations of job loss are now the majority view in every age group, which lawmakers can read as public sentiment but not as evidence of jobs actually lost.

For researchers

Repeats a 2024 question to show a two-year shift in expectations; this short read reports age breakdowns only, with no split by occupation or exposure to AI.

In their own words

Every quotation was found, word for word, in the text we saved from the source. That shows the words are there; it does not make them true, or prove the speaker meant them as quoted.

From the source’s own text.

“In our new survey, 71% of adults think AI will lead to fewer jobs in the United States over the next two decades, up from 64% in 2024. Few (5%) say AI will lead to more jobs. One-in-ten say it won’t make much difference, and a slightly larger share are unsure.”
Colleen McClain, Senior researcher, Pew Research CenterSection "AI and jobs": Pew's June 2026 result on expected job effects over the next two decades, compared with its 2024 survey.
Found word for word in the source
“Across most age groups, it’s become more common for Americans to foresee job loss from AI. For example, 73% of adults under 30 now say AI will lead to fewer jobs, up from 61% two years ago. The youngest adults are now just as likely as those ages 30 to 64 to hold this view.”
Colleen McClain, Senior researcher, Pew Research CenterThe same question broken down by age, compared with 2024.
Found word for word in the source
“Today, 52% of Americans say they are more concerned than excited about the increased use of AI in daily life – up from 37% in 2021. Another 9% are more excited than concerned and 37% say they’re equally excited and concerned, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted June 22-28, 2026.”
Colleen McClain, Senior researcher, Pew Research CenterOpening trend on feelings about AI in daily life, a question Pew has asked since 2021.
Found word for word in the source
“We surveyed 3,488 U.S. adults from June 22 to 28, 2026. Everyone who took part in this survey is a member of the Center’s American Trends Panel. The survey represents the views of the full U.S. adult population.”
Colleen McClain, Senior researcher, Pew Research CenterPew's description of the survey behind these figures.
Found word for word in the source

How the finding was reached

In our words, from the source. Weigh the finding by how it was made.

What was done
A survey of opinion: Pew's American Trends Panel, 3,488 US adults, 22-28 June 2026. It asked whether AI will lead to fewer jobs, more jobs or not much difference in the US over the next 20 years, and whether the increased use of AI in daily life makes people more concerned than excited, more excited than concerned, or equally both. Results are compared with Pew's 2024 survey for the jobs question and with earlier years back to 2021 for the feelings question.
What it found
71% of adults expect AI to lead to fewer jobs in the US over the next 20 years (64% in 2024); 5% expect more jobs, 10% no major difference and 14% are not sure. By age: 73% of adults 18-29 (61% in 2024), 74% of 30-49, 72% of 50-64 and 63% of those 65 and older. 52% are more concerned than excited about AI in daily life (37% in 2021), 37% equally concerned and excited, and 9% more excited; 55% of adults under 30 are more concerned than excited, a majority for the first time.
What it does not show
These are public expectations and feelings, not measurements of jobs affected, and a 20-year expectation can prove wrong. The short read gives no margin of error and no split by occupation, industry or experience with AI; the questionnaire, topline and methodology it links to were not read.
Status
A report

The record

Questions
What happens to work, income and the economy?
People
Colleen McClain (Wrote it, Senior researcher, Pew Research Center) · Eugenie Park (Wrote it, Research analyst, Pew Research Center)
What we read
We read the whole source.
Found by
A research pass: work, income and the economy, gathered October 13, 2026, via research-work (tier 1: the source’s own channel or an official record)
Cite this
Pew Research Center, “Young adults in the U.S. are increasingly wary of AI, concerned it will take jobs”, August 18, 2026. Entry in the Ctrl AI Base, https://ctrlai.com/base/pew-2026-08-18-young-adults-wary-ai-jobs
Our notesThe full text of the short read was read; the linked questionnaire, topline and methodology were not. The piece is bylined to two authors; the quotations are their joint words and are attributed to the first-listed author, as the Base does for multi-author papers. The shares for 2024 and 2026 (fewer jobs / no major difference / more jobs: 64/14/5 and 71/10/5) are read from the chart data on the page; the 14% not sure (16% in 2024) is from the chart note. Pew describes the survey as representing the full US adult population; no margin of error is stated on the page.