Will AI Take My Job? Rising Fears of Job Displacement in 2025

Anxiety over artificial intelligence and job security is spilling into search engines, where workers type increasingly desperate queries such as “Will AI take my job?”, “AI job loss”, “Is my job safe from AI?”, and “AI replacing entry-level jobs.” These searches reflect not only curiosity but deep concern that automation may hollow out careers.

Fresh research reinforces the scale of this fear. A Resume Now survey in early 2025 found that 89 percent of U.S. workers are worried about job security because of AI, while 43 percent personally know someone who has already been displaced. Data from ADP indicates nearly a third of employees are actively considering switching careers because they believe AI could soon replace them. Pew Research polling adds that more than half of U.S. workers expect AI to reduce opportunities in the coming years.

The impact is particularly sharp among younger professionals and new graduates. Queries like “AI replacing graduate jobs” and “Will AI take entry-level jobs?” have surged alongside reports suggesting AI tools could eliminate up to half of early-stage white-collar roles in finance, law, and media. For many, the traditional stepping stones into stable careers appear increasingly fragile.

At the same time, new opportunities are emerging, with searches such as “AI careers”, “prompt engineer jobs”, and “AI governance roles” hinting at fresh demand. But these positions are highly specialized and often out of reach for those most vulnerable to displacement.

What makes the picture murkier is that no one really knows which jobs will be replaced. A safe assumption is that any role performed primarily on a computer could be vulnerable to AI agents that can read, write, summarise, schedule, and even negotiate. If your value comes from processing information rather than building, fixing, or physically interacting with the world, you may not be safe.

In the short term, the most at-risk roles are those with repeatable, digital outputs. Junior software developers are increasingly competing with code-generation tools that can scaffold applications in seconds. Technical authors and documentation writers face similar pressure from AI systems that draft readable guides with minimal input. Graphic designers are already watching clients experiment with generative art platforms that can churn out logos, adverts, and concept images at a fraction of the price. These roles are unlikely to vanish overnight, but the supply of human workers will far exceed demand as AI takes over routine tasks.

Driving jobs also sit in the crosshairs. Self-driving technology has been slower to mature than promised, yet freight companies and taxi services continue to test autonomous systems. Long-haul trucking and delivery roles may be among the first casualties if regulations ease and insurers gain confidence in machine drivers. It is telling that major automotive and logistics firms are investing heavily in automation while lobbying governments for legal frameworks that permit driverless operations. For millions of professional drivers, the clock is ticking, even if it runs slower than the hype once suggested.

By contrast, skilled trades such as plumbing, electrical work, and construction are likely to be insulated for longer. Fixing a leaking pipe in an old house requires improvisation, manual skill, and trust inside someone’s home. Even the most sophisticated AI cannot yet wield a wrench, crawl under floorboards, or deal with unpredictable household layouts. These jobs may eventually be touched by robotics, but for the foreseeable future they remain a safer bet than office roles that involve nothing more than screens and keyboards.

Ironically, the push to adopt AI agents often comes from managers and executives eager to cut costs. Yet who is to say that managers themselves will not be next in line? Much of middle management consists of forwarding emails, creating slide decks, and approving timesheets. An AI could probably do that with fewer meetings and less waffle. Even the role of CEO is not immune. Shareholder updates, earnings calls, and strategic memos are just another form of data processing, and one might argue that an AI could do the job more consistently than many of today’s corporate leaders.

Of course, there are mitigating factors. Human relationships, trust, and accountability still matter, and organisations may hesitate to hand the keys of leadership to algorithms, at least for now. Legal liability and regulatory oversight also act as brakes. But the cynic might note that if companies see a path to greater profit, hesitation may not last long. After all, the history of automation shows that when the choice is between preserving jobs and saving money, efficiency usually wins.

For employers and policymakers, the rising tide of search traffic illustrates a broader social challenge. Workers want clarity, reassurance, and pathways to adapt. For employees, the uncomfortable truth is that while AI may enhance productivity, the question on everyone’s screen, Will AI take my job, remains very much unanswered.