October 22, 2026
Upjohn Institute President Michael Horrigan, will be presenting the paper “AI Exposure and the Future of Work: Tasks, Skill Demand, and Demographics” at the upcoming 2026 APPAM Fall Research Conference. The paper was cowritten by Horrigan, Erik Vasilauskas, and Alfonso Flores-Lagunes.
As generative AI transforms the American workplace, will its benefits and disruptions be shared equally—or will they reinforce existing inequalities among workers? New research explores how exposure to AI and digital automation varies across occupations and what these differences could mean for the future of work.
Among occupations with the highest AI exposure, those typically requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher are projected to grow by 7.1 percent through 2035. In contrast, occupations requiring a high school diploma or less are projected to decline by 6.1 percent.
The presentation extends this analysis to examine how AI exposure varies by sex, age, education, and race/ethnicity, drawing on Current Population Survey data. Which workers stand to benefit from AI-driven change, and which face potential displacement?
Be sure to attend the presentation on Saturday, November 7, 3:30–5:00 pm, to learn more.