AI shifts white-collar work as tech layoffs pass 150,000 in 2025

In short: AI is reducing some entry-level office jobs while pushing growth in new roles, and tech layoffs in 2025 have topped 150,000.

What's going on

AI is starting to reshape white-collar work, meaning office jobs like accounting, finance, and admin work. In 2025, tech industry layoffs have exceeded 150,000 jobs, and some reports tie part of this to automation. Automation is when software does tasks that people used to do, like a faster assistant that can handle repetitive work.

The jobs most at risk are entry-level roles with routine tasks. That includes data entry, basic financial analysis, and administrative coordination. Some projections suggest up to half of entry-level white-collar jobs could be eliminated in the next one to five years as companies use AI to draft reports, fill in spreadsheets, and summarize information.

At the same time, many forecasts expect the overall job picture to be net positive over time. One widely cited estimate says AI could displace 85 million jobs globally by 2026 but create 170 million new ones by 2030. Goldman Sachs has also estimated that 300 million jobs worldwide could be exposed to AI-driven automation over the next decade, and that about 25% of U.S. work hours could be automated.

What to watch

The big question is pace. Economists warn this may look less like a sudden crash and more like a slow-moving crisis, with layoffs and hiring slowdowns spreading unevenly. Watch for which roles grow fastest, including AI specialists, data analytics, cybersecurity, healthcare administration, clean energy jobs, and work building the power and data centers that AI systems need.

Source: NYTimes