Gartner Warns AI Could Break Millions of Careers by 2028 as 40% of Firms Cut Obsolete Jobs
Updated
Updated · HR Dive · May 26
Gartner Warns AI Could Break Millions of Careers by 2028 as 40% of Firms Cut Obsolete Jobs
4 articles · Updated · HR Dive · May 26
By 2028, AI may start creating more jobs than it destroys, but Gartner says the transition will still disrupt millions of career paths as work is reorganized faster than employees can build experience.
A survey of 110 HR leaders found 40% of companies have already eliminated obsolete roles, and nearly half have flattened structures to work more collaboratively.
That shift is shrinking promotion roadmaps and development opportunities, especially for junior staff, as AI takes over tasks that once built judgment and foundational skills.
Gartner says HR should replace experience- and title-based advancement with skill-based promotion and targeted retraining, or risk capability gaps just as AI-driven hiring demand grows.
Separate research from D2L and Morning Consult points the same way: nearly half of U.S. HR leaders say AI has raised entry-level productivity expectations, while about a third report hiring fewer junior workers.
Experts are split: Will AI spark a job boom by 2028 or trigger unprecedented mass unemployment?
With AI erasing entry-level roles, how will the next generation of leaders gain essential experience?
If past performance is irrelevant, how must companies now identify and cultivate future leaders?
AI Restructuring Wave 2025: How Over 90,000 US Jobs Have Been Cut and What It Means for Skills, Leadership, and Workplace Ethics
Overview
The employment landscape is undergoing significant transformation, with widespread job disruption, layoffs, and organizational restructuring. This shift is largely driven by the accelerating integration of artificial intelligence and automation into business operations. Companies are increasingly citing AI as a primary reason for workforce reductions, aiming to achieve greater efficiency and reallocate resources. The tech industry, in particular, has seen substantial job cuts, reflecting how AI adoption is reshaping the job market. As organizations adapt to these changes, both workers and leaders must navigate new challenges and opportunities in a rapidly evolving environment.