Moneyweb
RSS FeedAI may force 11m workers into new jobs, McKinsey says
Original Published: October 3, 2026
π― Impact Sentiment: Neutral
π Summary
- A McKinsey study reported by Bloomberg and Moneyweb estimates that about 11 million US workers, roughly 7% of the workforce, may need to change occupations by 2035 because of AI-related displacement.
- The authors say the larger challenge is mobility, not a simple shortage of jobs: historically about 215,000 Americans change occupations each year, and that pace may triple.
- Six of seven affected workers would face substantial retraining and a loss of income, and the workers most exposed are in office and administrative support, retail and sales, and transportation and logistics.
- The estimate ranges from 6 million to 16 million people depending on how fast firms adopt AI, and lower-income workers are projected to be almost eight times as likely as higher earners to have to switch jobs.
π‘ JR Insights
- πΌ Implication: Job seekers in clerical, retail, and logistics roles should expect more occupation changes even if the economy still creates work elsewhere.
- π¨ Risk: A new opening may require different credentials, a new location, or lower pay, so a headline job count does not guarantee a comparable role.
- β¨ Takeaway: Start a skills bridge nowβdocument transferable experience and target one growing field you can reach with a specific credential.