USA 🔗 Part of: Tech and Cybersecurity News (55) · 17 Sep 2026 · 04:12 GMT ·2 min read

AI Exposure and the Slowdown in US Wage Growth

Artificial intelligence is changing labor markets.

NEUTRALITY 90 · BALANCED· 3 sources

CNBC

Artificial intelligence is changing labor markets. Data shows slower wage growth in roles highly exposed to the technology. A study by Apollo Global Management found real-wage growth in these roles lagged by 6.7 percentage points after 2023. Overall employment levels remain stable. However, entry-level positions in finance and education face pressure. Economists disagree on the scale of these impacts. They cite limitations in how researchers measure AI exposure. They also note that broader economic factors influence current hiring trends.

Context

The Center for an Urban Future reported that job postings for entry-level computer and mathematical roles in New York City fell 49% since 2022. This decline follows the adoption of artificial intelligence across industries. Businesses are now reallocating tasks between human workers and automated systems.

Supportive perspectives

Apollo Global Management reported that workers in occupations highly exposed to AI experienced real-wage growth 6.7 percentage points slower after 2023 than employees in less-exposed roles.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas reported in February 2026 that entry-level workers face wage pressure as AI systems perform their tasks. Younger and less experienced employees remain particularly vulnerable to these labor market shifts.
The Center for an Urban Future reported that job postings for entry-level computer and mathematical roles in New York City fell by 49% from 2022 through 2024. Firms are now changing their hiring strategies in response to this lower demand.
Entry-level hiring has declined in office support, finance, arts, media, and education. Firms in these sectors are reducing staff as they adopt automated tools.

Critical perspectives

Economist Ben Zipperer of the Economic Policy Institute says the Apollo Global Management study uses a sample size too small to be convincing.
MIT economist Daron Acemoglu reports evidence that AI affects entry-level jobs. He states that data regarding the broader impact of AI on wages remains inconclusive.
Labor economist David Autor describes the AI exposure metric as limited. The metric fails to distinguish whether AI replaces expert or non-expert tasks within a specific job role.
The Apollo Global Management study found no statistically significant effect on overall employment levels. Total job numbers remain stable as AI integration progresses. Researchers noted that wages may still change.