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undefined | AI will affect more than half of all U.S. jobs, analysis finds

Artificial intelligence is set to reshape the U.S. labor market dramatically, but it is unlikely to eliminate most positions outright. Boston Consulting Group (BCG) estimates that between 50 % and 55 % of jobs will be “reshaped” over the next three years, meaning duties will change even if the roles remain. At the same time, the firm projects that 10 % to 15 % of U.S. jobs could be fully replaced by AI within five years, prompting concerns about layoffs and broader societal impacts.

BCG’s managing director Matthew Kropp advises business leaders to view AI as a tool for augmenting workers rather than a substitute. He stresses the importance of re‑skilling employees and shifting them into areas where demand will grow. In sectors such as software engineering, AI may drive up demand by lowering costs and enabling more projects, while routine‑focused roles like call‑center agents are likely to shrink as AI handles inquiries more efficiently, reducing the need for human representatives.

Certain occupations are expected to stay largely untouched because they rely on physical presence or interpersonal skills—examples include plumbers, therapists, and similar hands‑on professions. As with previous technological revolutions, AI could also generate entirely new job categories, though their exact nature remains uncertain. Kropp likens this to the emergence of social‑media influencers, a role that was unimaginable before the platforms that created it.