More than two thirds of UK workers are worried about the economic impact of AI-driven job losses, while a majority believe the technology will eliminate more jobs than it creates, according to a new study from King’s College London.
The research, conducted by The King’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence and the Policy Institute at King’s College London, paints a picture of growing unease around the future of work as AI adoption accelerates across the economy.
The first wave of the study surveyed 2,000 members of the public, alongside separate samples of young people, university students and employers. It found that 69 percent of workers are concerned about the economic impact of AI job losses, while 57 percent believe AI will ultimately lead to widespread unemployment.
Researchers also found widespread concern about the impact on younger workers and entry-level jobs. Nearly six in 10 respondents agreed with a prediction made by Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei in 2025 that AI could eliminate half of entry-level white-collar jobs within five years.
Public concern over economic and social impact
The study found anxiety extending beyond employment into wider societal concerns.
One in five respondents said AI could eliminate jobs quickly enough to trigger civil unrest, rising to a third among university students. Half of the public said the economic impact of AI-driven unemployment could be worse than a normal recession because AI systems would continue improving faster than workers could adapt.
At the same time, many respondents believe the benefits of AI will be unevenly distributed. Around two thirds of the public and more than half of employers said the economic gains from AI would primarily benefit wealthy investors and large companies rather than workers or society more broadly.
The research also highlighted a gap between public perception and current workforce exposure to AI. Respondents estimated that around 35 percent of UK workers were in jobs where AI could perform or enhance tasks, despite estimates from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) suggesting the figure could be closer to 70 percent.
Government and education sector seen as key to preparedness
The findings are likely to add pressure on policymakers already grappling with how to balance AI adoption with workforce resilience and public trust.
Schools, government and universities were identified as the institutions most responsible for preparing young people for an AI-driven economy. However, only one in five respondents believed the education system is currently preparing people effectively for a world shaped by AI.
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The public also expressed strong support for intervention measures. Around two thirds backed tighter regulation of AI firms even if it slowed innovation, while majorities supported government-backed retraining programmes and taxes on companies that replace workers with AI.
Professor Bobby Duffy said the findings reflected growing public anxiety about the pace of technological change.
“The public, workers, young people and university students are watching the rapid development of AI with more fear than excitement, with real concern for what it will do to jobs, particularly at entry levels, and, therefore, the prospects for our young people and the economy in general,” he said.
Duffy added that the government and employers would need to demonstrate how the labour market could adapt to AI disruption.
“This is a vision that will need to be explained, and demonstrated, to the public,” he said. “It is still early days, and our baseline study shows that many don’t yet have firm views or much direct experience of AI’s impact – but that’s likely to change quickly, and we’ll need to outline clear plans on how we will adapt and support people in the transition.”
Employers more optimistic about AI adoption
While public concern dominated the findings, employers were more positive about AI’s potential benefits.
Almost all employers surveyed said they were already using AI in some part of their organisation, most commonly for data analysis, research and admin. More than eight in 10 said AI had delivered productivity improvements.
However, the research also found that 22 percent of employers had already reduced hiring or made roles redundant because of AI adoption, rising to 29 percent among larger organisations.
Professor Elena Simperl said the findings showed the public was not rejecting AI outright, but wanted its deployment handled more responsibly.
“These findings tell us something important: the British public isn’t asking us to slow down on AI, they’re asking us to do it better,” she said. “People want these tools, they want more of them, and they’ve used them enough to know where they fall short.”