Tufts University forecasts over 207,000 Boston-area jobs lost to AI in five years
Updated
Updated · The Boston Globe · Apr 24
Tufts University forecasts over 207,000 Boston-area jobs lost to AI in five years
9 articles · Updated · The Boston Globe · Apr 24
The study estimates 260,000 jobs lost statewide and $25.6 billion in lost wages, with Massachusetts facing the highest AI job risk in the US after D.C.
Writers, editors, and coders are most vulnerable, while manual and healthcare jobs are relatively safe. Nationwide, up to 9.3 million jobs could be lost to AI by 2031.
The report notes new AI-driven jobs may not offset losses, and MIT researchers are developing tools to predict task-specific AI disruption. Similar studies highlight widespread concern about AI’s labor market impact.
While studies predict job losses, where are the hidden job booms AI is already creating?
Will AI turn today's thriving tech hubs into tomorrow's 'Wired Rust Belts'?
Why do expert predictions on AI's job impact swing so wildly, from economic doom to boom?
If AI threatens high-earners, are traditional social safety nets prepared for this new reality?
How will AI reshape economic mobility for the millions of workers who lack a college degree?
Beyond specific jobs, what fundamental human skills will remain most valuable in an AI-driven economy?
AI-Driven Displacement in Massachusetts: Economic Losses of $25.6 Billion and 207,000 Jobs at Stake
Overview
A 2025 Tufts University study projects that AI will displace over 207,000 jobs in Boston by 2031, causing a $25.6 billion annual wage loss. Massachusetts' knowledge-intensive economy makes it highly vulnerable, with AI-driven layoffs already surging. This job reduction suppresses consumer spending, hurting local businesses and triggering further job cuts, contributing to a projected recession by late 2026. While sectors like biotech and finance rapidly adopt AI—leading to both workforce reductions and new AI-related jobs—challenges like talent loss and wage stagnation threaten social cohesion. In response, Massachusetts is expanding apprenticeships, AI training, and policy reforms to support workforce transformation and economic resilience.