Published Oct. 7, 2025 | 5 min read | CreditVana Insights
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has dominated headlines since the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022. Stories warned of mass layoffs, entire industries collapsing, and millions of workers being replaced.
But nearly three years later, the reality looks far less dramatic. According to an October 1 report from the Yale Budget Lab, the labor market has not undergone the massive disruption many predicted. Workers haven’t shifted careers in large numbers, automation hasn’t wiped out jobs, and new AI-driven roles have not appeared at scale. For now, AI has not “taken” most people’s jobs.
Public Fear Remains High
Even without visible mass job losses, people remain uneasy. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in August 2025 found that 71% of respondents fear AI will permanently put too many people out of work. While the disruption hasn’t happened yet, history suggests big technological changes often take decades before reshaping the workforce.
Computers, for example, took nearly ten years after release to become standard in offices — and even longer to transform workflows. The Budget Lab notes it’s reasonable to expect AI’s most significant effects will take longer than 33 months to materialize.
Which Jobs Are Most at Risk?
Exposure to automation depends on how much of a role can be digitized or replicated by AI. Research from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School shows that some occupations are far more exposed than others:
Highest exposure (50%+ of tasks at risk):
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Office & administrative support (75.5%)
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Business & financial operations (68.4%)
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Computer & mathematical roles (62.6%)
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Sales (60.1%)
Moderate exposure (30%–49.9%):
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Management (49.9%)
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Legal professions (47.5%)
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Arts, design, media (45.8%)
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Engineering (40.7%)
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Sciences (31%)
Lower exposure (20%–29.9%):
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Education & libraries (29.5%)
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Social services (27.5%)
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Healthcare practitioners (23.1%)
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Protective services (20.7%)
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Transportation & moving (20%)
Lowest exposure (<20%):
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Food service (18.1%)
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Personal care (17.5%)
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Healthcare support (15.5%)
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Manufacturing & production (14.4%)
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Maintenance & repair (13.1%)
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Farming, fishing & forestry (9.7%)
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Construction (8.9%)
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Cleaning & maintenance (2.6%)
A separate report led by Sen. Bernie Sanders in October 2025, using a ChatGPT-based model, estimated nearly 100 million U.S. jobs could face replacement over the next decade. Roles such as fast food workers (89%), customer service representatives (83%), and bookkeeping clerks (76%) were among the most vulnerable.
Younger Workers Hit Hardest
AI’s first wave of impact seems to be landing hardest on younger workers.
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Gen Z workers (ages 22–25) in high-exposure fields such as software development and customer service have seen a 13% decline in employment since 2022, according to a Stanford University study.
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Early-career employees often perform highly structured, rules-based tasks — exactly the kind of work AI handles most easily.
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Senior workers, on the other hand, tend to rely on tacit knowledge: judgment calls, intuition, and on-the-job shortcuts that AI struggles to replicate.
Hiring data also suggests a seniority bias is emerging. Harvard University researchers found that firms adopting AI slowed down junior hiring in 2023, particularly in wholesale and retail trade.
No wonder nearly a quarter of workers ages 18 to 34 in the U.S. and Europe now believe AI could cost them their jobs within the next two years, according to Deutsche Bank.
What We Know (and Don’t Know)
The full picture of AI’s labor impact is still blurry. Large Language Models (LLMs) like those developed by OpenAI or Anthropic provide useful insight, but they don’t capture every task, industry, or adoption barrier.
What we do know:
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AI is being adopted quickly. Stanford reports LLM workplace usage rose from 30.1% in Dec. 2024 to 45.6% by mid-2025.
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The most immediate changes are uneven — hitting younger and early-career workers more severely than experienced staff.
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Long-term disruption is expected, but likely on a slower timeline.
Key Takeaway for CreditVana Readers
AI isn’t an overnight job killer — but it is steadily reshaping the workplace. If you’re early in your career or in a high-exposure field, it’s crucial to:
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Upskill continuously in areas AI struggles with (critical thinking, problem solving, human-to-human communication).
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Diversify your career path to reduce dependence on roles with high automation exposure.
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Stay financially prepared by monitoring your credit health, building savings, and keeping debt manageable.
At CreditVana, we believe staying financially resilient is just as important as staying professionally adaptable. Just as you track your credit scores to safeguard your financial future, keeping an eye on AI’s evolving role in the workplace is part of building long-term stability.
✅ Tip: Get your free 3-bureau credit scores with CreditVana — and make sure your finances stay as adaptable as your career.
