According to a ChainCatcher report, The Economist estimates that AI has created about 1 million new jobs in the United States so far, far more than the roughly 200,000 jobs eliminated because of AI since mid-2023.
Estimate draws on August labor data
The estimate incorporates August employment data released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics on Sept. 4. The figures showed the US economy added 162,000 jobs, while the unemployment rate held at 4.1%.
The gap between the unemployment rate for people aged 20 to 24 and the overall unemployment rate has also narrowed to near its lowest level in decades.
Growth came from AI-facing skilled roles and data center work
Job gains were driven mainly by two groups: high-skill positions that directly serve AI, and blue-collar work supported by data center construction.
Engineers, software developers, mathematicians, and data scientists have added about 730,000 jobs above trend since 2022.
The chief economist at Burning Glass Institute estimated that about 1% of professional jobs in the US can currently be classified as AI roles. In computer and life sciences, that share rises to 4% to 5%.
Data center spending lifted demand and pay
Spending on data center construction increased 60% over the past year, pushing up demand for electricians, HVAC technicians, and similar trades.
Data from Indeed showed that installation and maintenance jobs at data centers pay about 40% more than comparable roles.
Some occupations continue to shrink
At the same time, some job categories have kept contracting. Customer service roles have fallen about 10% since January 2023, while administrative assistant positions are down about 15%.
Microsoft and Meta cut staff as they reorganized operations around AI. Block and Intuit replaced some human labor with automation tools.
US companies are announcing about 16,000 AI-related layoffs per month on average.
Economist comment
Economist Noah Smith said it remains difficult to identify occupations that have been wiped out by AI in labor market data.