A growing share of hourly workers in the United States are encountering artificial intelligence on the job before they feel financially prepared for it.
That is one of the clearest signals from the PYMNTS Intelligence study “The Resilience Deficit: Labor Workers in an Automated Economy.” The study examined how automation is reshaping confidence, job security and financial resilience for Labor Economy workers, defined as hourly workers earning up to $25 an hour and generally less than $50,000 annually.
While AI is spreading across workplaces of every type, low-income workers are receiving less training, reporting lower confidence and showing fewer financial buffers to absorb disruption.
The findings also suggested that AI’s impact is moving beyond Silicon Valley and corporate offices into warehouses, restaurants, hospitality, logistics and caregiving jobs that make up a large share of everyday consumer spending. Roughly 1 in 3 U.S. workers now fall into the Labor Economy category, representing about 60 million adults and roughly 15% of annual GDP.
Key data points from the report include:
- The share of Labor Economy workers who said their employer introduced new automation or AI tools during the last 12 months was 37%.
- Nearly 60% Labor workers affected by AI said they did not receive training on the new technology. Only 42% said they received instruction on how to use the tools.
- Only 39% of Labor Economy workers said they are confident they could find comparable-paying work if technology eliminated their current role.
AI investment is accelerating across industries, and companies are increasingly framing automation as a productivity tool rather than an experimental technology. Yet the PYMNTS data suggested the bigger divide may not be about who encounters AI first. It may center on who has the resources to adapt once workplace changes begin.
Advertisement: Scroll to Continue
That divide appeared repeatedly throughout the research. Labor Economy workers were less likely than higher-income workers to rely on savings during a financial shock and more likely to say they would need government assistance if work hours were reduced. Their job security confidence also weakened in April, with Labor Economy worker expectations falling to their lowest level since October.
The report pointed to areas where employers, banks, payroll providers and FinTech firms may be able to close the gap. Many workers affected by automation said the technology had not yet fundamentally changed their daily roles, suggesting there is still time for companies to expand training and financial support before disruption deepens. One-quarter of workers in both labor segments said they would pick up extra shifts or gig work if their workload were cut, reflecting a workforce still looking for ways to adapt rather than retreat.
The broader takeaway from the report is that AI adoption is no longer a future workplace story. For millions of hourly workers, it is already becoming part of everyday economic life.
For all PYMNTS AI coverage, subscribe to the daily AI Newsletter.
At PYMNTS Intelligence, we work with businesses to uncover insights that fuel intelligent, data-driven discussions on changing customer expectations, a more connected economy and the strategic shifts necessary to achieve outcomes. With rigorous research methodologies and unwavering commitment to objective quality, we offer trusted data to grow your business. As our partner, you’ll have access to our diverse team of PhDs, researchers, data analysts, number crunchers, subject matter veterans and editorial experts.
