Gartner forecasts that by 2029, artificial intelligence will profoundly reshape global employment dynamics, turning work into a partnership between people and smart systems. Rather than eliminating jobs, AI will drive large-scale job redesign and skill adaptation.
According to the study, beginning around 2028–2029, organizations will need to reconfigure more than 32 million jobs per year to keep pace with AI integration and automation demands.
“The next era of enterprise performance will not hinge on the quantity of people employed, but on the quality of collaboration between humans and AI,” said Helen Poitevin, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner.
“Executive leaders must plan their AI investments and goals to anticipate and manage these changes. They must choose a direction — either human-first designs that enhance workers’ roles or AI-first designs prioritizing efficiency,” Poitevin added.
In a human-first model, automation supports workers, allowing them to handle tasks beyond AI’s reach. This approach maintains employment but transforms workflows. In contrast, AI-first strategies favor automation, potentially reducing headcount while increasing operational efficiency.
Customer service illustrates this shift: human agents increasingly manage complex issues after chatbots complete routine interactions, highlighting how collaboration between humans and AI already reshapes industries.
Author Summary: Gartner projects AI will not destroy jobs but redefine millions annually, creating a future centered on human-AI collaboration and continuous reskilling.