A growing majority of workers around the world are worried about their job security because of the rise of artificial intelligence despite historically low unemployment rates and steady economic growth, according to a new survey.
ADP's latest Today at Work 2026 report found that only 22% of workers globally strongly agree with the claim that their job is safe from elimination, meaning more than three-quarters of the global workforce harbor concerns about their long-term employment prospects.
The findings are based on responses from more than 39,000 workers across 36 markets worldwide. "Despite three years of historically low global unemployment and steady economic growth, our data reveals widespread job insecurity expressed by workers worldwide," said Dr. Nela Richardson, chief economist at ADP.
ADP's findings suggest that workers who regularly use AI on the job actually feel more secure than those who do not. Frequent AI users were more likely to express confidence that their positions would survive future workplace changes.
Job insecurity was especially high among lower-paid workers performing repetitive tasks and among employees at the bottom of management hierarchies. These groups are often considered the most vulnerable to automation and organizational restructuring.
The report also highlights a strong connection between job security and employee performance. Workers who believed their jobs were safe were six times more likely to be fully engaged at work and more than three times as likely to describe themselves as highly productive compared with workers who felt insecure about their future.
"Workers who clearly see the role their existing skillsets will play in an organization's future and investment by their employers in helping them develop skills of the future will be more engaged, productive and have the confidence to thrive in this next era of work," said Jay Caldwell, ADP's chief talent officer.
The study also found that employer investment in workforce development can make a substantial difference. More than half of workers who strongly believed their employers were investing in their growth reported being fully engaged, compared with just 12% of those who did not feel similarly supported.
Businesses across industries are rapidly accelerating AI adoption. Recent surveys in Europe and North America have similarly shown rising concerns about automation replacing human workers.
A Randstad survey published earlier this year found that more than a quarter of British workers fear losing their jobs to AI within the next five years. At the same time, economists and labor experts note that anxiety about job displacement is not always reflected in labor market data.
Unemployment remains at historically low levels, but workers increasingly worry about how technology could reshape careers over the next decade. ADP's research suggests that concern extends far beyond those currently facing layoffs.
The report also found broader signs of unease in the workforce. Only 19% of workers worldwide reported being fully engaged in their jobs in 2025, leaving more than four out of five employees either disengaged or only partially engaged.
