Technology usually creates jobs for young, skilled workers. Will AI do the same?
A new study by MIT labor economist David Autor examines how technology impacts employment in the U.S. postwar era. The research indicates that new tech-enabled jobs tend to benefit young, educated workers, particularly those under 30. It also highlights the role of government investment in creating new specializations and raises questions about the future of work in the age of artificial intelligence.
- ▪The study shows that new forms of work have historically benefited college graduates under 30 more than any other demographic.
- ▪Government-backed expansion during the 1940s significantly contributed to the creation of new jobs and expertise.
- ▪The research utilized U.S. Census Bureau data from 1940 to 2023 to analyze employment trends and worker demographics.
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A new study of the postwar U.S. shows which kinds of workers historically filled new tech-enabled jobs. Peter Dizikes | MIT News Publication Date: May 21, 2026 Press Inquiries Press Contact: Abby Abazorius Email: [email protected] Phone: 617-253-2709 MIT News Office Media Download ↓ Download Image Caption: In the postwar U.S., as Autor and his colleagues examined in granular detail, new forms of work have tended to benefit college graduates under 30 more than anyone else. Credits: Image: Jose-Luis Olivares, MIT; iStock *Terms of Use: Images for download on the MIT News office website are made available to non-commercial entities, press and the general public under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives license.
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