Read our full analysis for a more in-depth look at these trends.
Adaptability is the new job security: AI and the future of work
AI is reshaping jobs, more than replacing them – making adaptability and continuous learning key to long term resilience.
May 2026
Key takeaways
- As AI becomes deeply embedded in the workplace, its labor market impact appears to be increasingly uneven across regions and industries. An estimated 24% of jobs are exposed to generative AI (genAI), with exposure highest in higher-income economies (33.5% of jobs), where non-routine cognitive work is more prevalent.
- Exposure metrics highlight where AI pressure may be greatest, but BofA Global Research believes labor market outcomes depend more on an economy's ability to adapt through skills, institutions and workforce quality. As a broad, general-purpose shock to cognitive labor, AI appears to be reshaping how jobs are done rather than simply replacing them.
- According to BofA Global Research, if economies invest in complementary skills, AI is more likely to augment work and help moderate inequality. At the same time, policy frameworks must ensure that productivity gains are shared between labor and capital, with accelerated efforts to provide clear top-down guidance to private firms - encouraging responsible, inclusive AI deployment.
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