Only 22% of global workers strongly believe their jobs are safe from elimination, with job insecurity particularly high among lower-paid and lower-level workers, despite low unemployment and economic growth. Workers who feel secure in their jobs are significantly more engaged, productive, and less likely to seek other employment, while frequent AI users and higher-level managers report greater confidence in job security. Employers investing in employees also see higher levels of worker engagement.
Kenya's essay writing industry, which employed at least 40,000 people in Nairobi at its peak, collapsed after the introduction of AI tools like ChatGPT, which made human writers redundant. The country had previously bet on outsourcing and gig work as a solution to high youth unemployment and poverty, but AI disrupted this sector, forcing workers into lower-paying, AI-assisted roles. Despite government efforts to promote digital work, the decline of the essay industry highlights the challenges faced by Kenyan gig workers in the age of automation.
Unions are pushing for worker protections and involvement in AI implementation as experts predict significant job displacement due to AI, with some forecasts suggesting 15 million jobs could be lost in the next decade. Labor leaders emphasize the need for collective bargaining and policies to ensure AI benefits workers rather than harming them. While AI-related job losses have not yet materialized on a large scale, concerns remain high, and unions are seeking greater influence in shaping the future of work.
AI will significantly transform work by enhancing efficiency and innovation, particularly in industries like real estate, but it cannot replace the human relationships and emotional support that professionals provide. Despite concerns about job displacement and ethical issues, AI is increasingly being used as a tool to empower workers, allowing them to develop customized solutions quickly and at lower costs. The article emphasizes that while AI is here to stay, it is the human element—trust, empathy, and personal connection—that remains irreplaceable in many professions.
Bangladesh faces significant challenges in preparing its labor market for the future of work, driven by automation, AI, and structural economic transitions. The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) emphasizes the urgent need for policy reforms and capacity building to ensure the workforce can adapt to emerging technologies and shifting employment patterns. Key priorities include reskilling workers, improving institutional frameworks, and fostering inclusive economic growth.
Kalshi traders are increasingly betting that U.S. unemployment will reach 10% by 2030, driven by concerns over AI-related job losses and structural shifts in the labor market. The probability of this outcome, as implied by the market, rose sharply following a recent employment report that showed strong overall job gains but significant declines in the tech-exposed information sector. This suggests growing fears of a long-term economic downturn or major transformation in employment patterns over the next four years.
Oh Jun-ho has been elected as the new leader of the Basic Income Party in South Korea. The party held elections for its central council, marking a significant step in its political development. This outcome reflects growing interest in basic income policies within the country.
A Universal Basic Income (UBI) would be prohibitively expensive if added to existing social safety net programs. Replacing current programs with UBI would drastically reduce benefits for the poor and elderly while significantly increasing income for healthier, able-bodied individuals. This would lead to significant political opposition and fail to achieve the intended goals of the UBI.
