As AI Job Anxiety Spikes, White-Collar Workers Look to Blue-Collar Stability
- Alexis Miller
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
What happens when workers stop believing their jobs are safe? Recent reports show top cities and states in the nation where workers are having AI job anxiety, revealing that nearly 1 in 8 U.S. jobs are now at high risk of automation-driven displacement.
Mounting concern over AI's impact is prompting workers to reconsider not just their current roles, but their entire career trajectories, including whether or not they see a future with their employer. Even half of Gen Z thinks AI could replace them within a decade. That fear doesn't just affect how they work, it affects retention within the core of the hourly workforce.
19.2 Million Jobs Are at Risk of Being Replaced by Automation
12.6% of U.S. jobs (representing 19.2 million positions in the workforce) face a high or very high risk of being replaced by automation. White-collar roles in finance and business operations are especially vulnerable (19.9% risk), and for many, that risk is already driving a move towards hands-on, more stable blue-collar work.
Rising AI anxiety is influencing how white-collar workers answer key questions about their careers.
43% of white-collar workers fear AI will take their job within the next decade.
48% say trade jobs look safer and more stable.
1 in 8 are already making the switch into blue-collar careers.
AI Job Anxiety by State: Who's Googling "Will AI Take My Job?"
Search data shows where AI-driven job anxiety is most intense across the U.S., and it's not just in tech hubs. States with the highest searches for AI related job anxiety include Vermont, Rhode Island, and Alaska.
What's Driving Blue-Collar Workers to Rethink Their Next Move
Despite lower automation risk, blue-collar workers are reassessing what they want from work and are also expressing concerns about AI replacement.
39% are eyeing office jobs, driven by better pay, benefits, and flexibility.
44% feel burned out, and nearly half feel undervalued.
1 in 4 worry they’ll be replaced by humanoid robots in their lifetime.
AI-related job anxiety is widespread, but the motivations behind career shifts vary. For many blue-collar workers, the priority is upward mobility, including better pay, benefits, and opportunity for career growth. Meanwhile, white-collar professionals seek long-term stability in a rapidly changing landscape. Across the board, workers want to feel valued, supported, and secure in their roles.
Tech Alone Isn’t the Answer: People Still Drive ROI
The experts agree: It’s not about choosing tech over people. It’s about integrating tech with people, meaning:
Upskilling at-risk roles most vulnerable to automaton, preparing employees for evolving responsibilities.
Using AI for smarter, data-driven decision making, without replacing human empathy.
Integrating technology in ways that enhance, not erase, the human connection.
Employers who prioritize people through flexible schedules, transparent communication, and clear growth paths consistently outperform when it comes to attracting and retaining talent.
What You Should Be Doing Right Now
With AI job anxiety reshaping how hourly workers think about job security, here's what employers need to focus on to attract and retain talent.
Position stability as a benefit. Reassure workers that your roles won't vanish with the next tech rollout. Your jobs are built to last.
Be transparent about tech. Don’t pretend AI isn’t part of your operations. Show how you use it with your team, not instead of them.
Support internal movement. Have a warehouse worker curious about dispatch? A server asking about managing? If team members are exploring new roles, give them opportunities before they leave to find them elsewhere.
Update your job language. Words like “secure,” “hands-on,” and “growth path” are resonating. Make sure your job postings or video descriptions reflect what today's workforce actually wants.
Job Seekers Want More: Here's How to Deliver
As automation threatens millions of roles and career shifts accelerate in both directions, employers can't afford to rely on outdated hiring methods. Employers must rethink their hiring strategies and give workers a compelling reason to stay.
In an era of AI job anxiety and career uncertainty, job seekers are looking for more than just work; they’re looking for stability they can trust. Juvo helps employers reach local talent who want to grow, stay, and feel valued.
Ready to rethink your hiring strategy? Talk to our team or explore how Juvo’s people-first platform can help you adapt!
Join the Juvo Network or become a Juvo partner today! Download the Juvo Jobs app to see local jobs in your neighborhood.
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