Agentic AI & Unemployment Trends: Navigating the Future of Work

Sharon Nijhawan
Jun 23
3 min read

Today’s AI is no longer just a tool—it’s an agentic force, autonomously initiating tasks, adapting workflows, and reshaping what “work” means. As businesses deploy these systems, their impact on employment is profound—but nuanced.

Big Picture: We’re at an inflection point

Agentic AI has the potential to transform work faster than any prior wave of automation. The impact on unemployment depends less on technology — and more on how business leaders, educators, policymakers, and society respond. The question now is not whether AI will disrupt the job market, rather it is whether we have learnt to co-exist with the emerging technology.

Key Insights & Data

1. Agentic AI is booming

As per research reports by PwC, Harvard Business Review and UiPath, the global agentic AI labor market is projected to grow from $2.7 billion in 2024 to $3.9 billion in 2025—a 43.9% CAGR, with further projections reaching $16.5 billion by 2029

2. Widespread workforce impact

An estimated 40% of global jobs could be affected by generative AI through automation or augmentation. With AI known to disrupt software engineering across the globe, India seems to have a silver lining to offer in form of enhanced tech sector hiring.

According to the data revealed by Indeed, in May 2025, 1.5% of all job openings listed GenAI, which is double of the previous year. In addition, 12.5% analytics roles now reference GenAI.

3. Mixed effects on jobs

A McKinsey research from Jan 2025 sizes the long-term AI opportunity at $4.4 trillion in added productivity growth potential from corporate use cases. Therein lies the challenge: the long-term potential of AI is great, but the short-term returns are unclear. Over the next three years, 92% of companies plan to increase their AI investments. While 14% of workers report actual job displacement from AI so far. CEOs like Amazon’s Andy Jassy, are talking candidly about massive white-collar job cuts & AI in the same breath, delivering a high-stakes message to the employees.

Meanwhile, according to Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) in the US, software developers, database admins, and personal financial advisors are projected to grow significantly by 2023–33—some nearly 18%, well above average.

4. AI-skilling pays off

AI-savvy workers earn 56% higher wages, and AI-exposed industries see 3× faster revenue-per-employee growth. Business & Political Leaders across the globe warn that employees should embrace AI or risk being left behind.

5. Skills at risk & those in demand

By 2030, 39% of current skillsets will become obsolete.

Demand is surging for complementary skills—digital literacy, creativity, ethics—even as routine customer-service roles decline.

What This Means for Leaders & Policy Makers

· Job Displacement vs. Creation: AI will replace routine roles—particularly middle-office and entry-level jobs—but it also generates new hybrid roles: AI supervisors, prompt engineers, digital workflow architects.

· Income & Inequality: Without inclusive reskilling programs, the gap between AI-empowered professionals and those displaced could widen.

· Reskilling Imperative: Upskilling in AI-literate, complementary skills will be essential. Worker adaptability determines outcomes more than technology does.

· Policy Leverage: Governments and corporates must co-invest in training, social safety nets, and ethical deployment to ensure AI benefits reach everyone.

Call to Action

“Agentic AI isn’t just reshaping jobs—it’s redefining work. To turn disruption into opportunity, we must double down on reskilling, design thoughtful deployment strategies, and build inclusive policies.”