Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), told the IMF–World Bank governing bodies at their fall meetings in Bangkok that artificial intelligence (AI) will affect roughly 40 percent of jobs worldwide in various ways.
Georgieva emphasized that AI’s impact will not be uniform: in some sectors it may expand employment, in others it may reduce the number of jobs, and in certain areas it could even eliminate roles entirely. She said the initial effects of this process are already visible in advanced economies. Georgieva likened AI to a "slow-moving tsunami" that is fundamentally reshaping the global labor market.
The IMF estimates that in developing countries the share of jobs affected by AI is currently about 23 percent. An IMF study focused on the United States finds that roughly 10 percent of jobs already require AI-related skills.
According to the figures cited, 92 percent of surveyed companies already use some form of AI.
Education, lifelong learning and fiscal implications
Georgieva urged governments to reconsider how they prepare their education systems for future challenges. She stressed that acquiring a single skill once is no longer sufficient and that workers cannot rely on that single skill throughout their careers; continuous lifelong learning will be essential.
The IMF chief also warned that AI could create fiscal challenges. If the share of human labor declines, governments will need to identify new revenue sources or financing mechanisms.
World Bank: shrinking demand for entry-level jobs
Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank, who has emphasized job creation in his agenda, warned that demand for entry-level positions following graduation appears to be falling. He said this trend requires urgent policy attention in the areas of employment and education.
(Reporting based on MTI)
