CFO Slice

A survey of around 750 U.S. chief financial officers, produced with economists from the Federal Reserve Banks of Atlanta and Richmond, suggests artificial intelligence (AI) will have a limited overall impact on employment in the near term, with companies expecting headcount to decline by just 0.4% in 2026. However, the effects are expected to be uneven, with AI most likely to displace workers in routine, clerical, and administrative roles, while enhancing productivity in higher-skilled positions such as engineering and technical fields. CFOs were notably more likely to anticipate job cuts in office support functions than in more advanced roles, reflecting a broader shift toward skills-based employment. The findings echo past technological changes, where automation reduced demand for routine work but complemented more educated workers, though economists warn displaced workers may struggle to transition into newly created roles. Larger companies appear more focused on using AI to cut costs, while smaller firms are more inclined to use it to expand and hire technical talent, highlighting a divergence in how businesses are deploying the technology.