IMF, OECD warn AI could expose 40% of jobs globally

AI exposure threatens 40% of global workforce

The International Monetary Fund estimates that approximately 40% of jobs worldwide could be exposed to artificial intelligence, according to a warning issued by the IMF and OECD Reuters. The two organizations cautioned that "exposure" does not necessarily mean jobs will disappear entirely—tasks may be augmented or transformed by AI rather than eliminated outright.

The vulnerability is not evenly distributed. Younger and entry-level workers face particular risk if AI automation takes over the tasks through which employees have traditionally gained experience, according to an IMF official Reuters. This dynamic could create a skills gap as workers lose access to foundational learning opportunities.

Inequality gap widens between nations and companies

The IMF and OECD warned that AI adoption could deepen divisions between richer and poorer countries, larger and smaller companies, and workers with unequal access to digital skills. The concern centers on structural disadvantages: poorer nations and smaller businesses may lack reliable electricity, robust digital infrastructure, and workforce training programs necessary to implement or benefit from AI systems Reuters.

These infrastructure gaps mean that wealthy nations and large enterprises can deploy agents and automation faster, capturing productivity gains and competitive advantages that smaller competitors cannot match. Developing economies risk falling further behind as their workforces face displacement without the resources to transition into AI-adjacent roles.

Unequal access to skills and opportunity

The warning reflects broader concerns about unequal distribution of AI's benefits and harms. Workers in developed economies with strong education systems and tech-sector access may transition into agent management, training, and oversight roles. By contrast, workers in developing regions with limited digital infrastructure and less investment in retraining face exposure to job displacement without corresponding pathways into new work.

The IMF and OECD assessment, released in late October 2026, underscores that the AI agent economy is reshaping labor markets in ways that amplify existing inequalities. Without deliberate policy intervention—investment in digital infrastructure, workforce retraining, and equitable access to AI tools—the productivity gains from automation may concentrate in wealthy nations and large enterprises while displacement and disruption spread globally.