# Is AI taking jobs yet?

> What does the evidence say about AI's effect on employment, and how are lawmakers reacting?

Exposure studies, payroll data and firm surveys tell a consistent story: no economy-wide job loss so far, but a clear squeeze on entry-level hiring. Meanwhile employers increasingly cite AI for layoffs, and California has begun to legislate in response.

## Stops
1. **20 May 2025: ILO refined index: one in four jobs worldwide exposed to generative AI** (Development) Sets the baseline: a quarter of jobs exposed, mostly to transformation rather than replacement. [page](https://wheresthe.ai/d/intl-ilo-genai-exposure-index-2025-05/) · [source](https://www.ilo.org/publications/generative-ai-and-jobs-refined-global-index-occupational-exposure)
2. **28 Oct 2025: Amazon cuts about 14,000 corporate roles, citing the pace of AI change** (Development) A major employer openly frames white-collar cuts around AI. [page](https://wheresthe.ai/d/us-amazon-14000-corporate-cuts-ai-2025-10/) · [source](https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/company-news/amazon-workforce-reduction)
3. **14 Jan 2026: IMF: new AI-linked skills lift wages but widen inequality and hit young workers** (Development) The IMF flags young workers and the middle class as the groups most at risk. [page](https://wheresthe.ai/d/intl-imf-sdn-ai-new-skills-jobs-2026-01/) · [source](https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/Staff-Discussion-Notes/Issues/2026/01/09/Bridging-Skill-Gaps-for-the-Future-New-Jobs-Creation-in-the-AI-Age-572136)
4. **5 Mar 2026: Anthropic 'observed exposure' study finds no jobless rise but fewer young hires** (Development) Usage data shows real AI use far below theoretical capability, but fewer young hires. [page](https://wheresthe.ai/d/us-anthropic-observed-exposure-labor-2026-03/) · [source](https://www.anthropic.com/research/labor-market-impacts)
5. **7 May 2026: Yale Budget Lab finds no significant AI effect on US jobs or wages through Q1 2026** (Development) Aggregate statistics still show no significant effect on jobs or wages. [page](https://wheresthe.ai/d/us-yale-budget-lab-no-ai-labor-effect-2026-05/) · [source](https://budgetlab.yale.edu/research/what-we-do-and-dont-know-about-how-ai-affecting-labor-market)
6. **6 Aug 2026: Challenger: AI is top stated reason for US job cuts for fifth month running** (Development) AI becomes the most cited reason in layoff announcements. [page](https://wheresthe.ai/d/us-challenger-ai-top-layoff-reason-2026-08/) · [source](https://www.challengergray.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Challenger-Report-July-2026.pdf)
7. **12 Aug 2026: Stanford ADP data: young-worker jobs in AI-exposed roles now 19% below peers** (Development) Payroll data puts the young-worker gap at 19% and growing. [page](https://wheresthe.ai/d/us-stanford-canaries-update-2026-08/) · [source](https://digitaleconomy.stanford.edu/news/canariesaug26/)
8. **1 Sep 2026: NY Fed survey: AI adoption jumps but only 4% of service firms cut jobs over it** (Development) Firms report slowing hiring and retraining far more often than layoffs. [page](https://wheresthe.ai/d/us-ny-fed-ai-augments-not-replaces-2026-09/) · [source](https://libertystreeteconomics.newyorkfed.org/2026/09/businesses-are-using-ai-to-transform-work-not-cut-jobs/)
9. **30 Sep 2026: California bans AI-only firing and requires notice of AI-driven mass layoffs** (Development) California responds with AI layoff notice and human control over firing. [page](https://wheresthe.ai/d/us-ca-sb947-ai-workplace-laws-2026-09/) · [source](https://www.kqed.org/news/12102337/newsom-signs-slate-of-ai-workplace-laws-barring-robo-bosses-and-surveillance)
10. **United States (federal)** (Country) Where nearly all of this evidence and the policy response are concentrated. [page](https://wheresthe.ai/j/us/)

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