What do we do with the people AI displaces?

That is the question nobody really wants to answer properly. Because yes — AI is already writing code, drafting contracts, producing articles, building presentations and generating images. And once a much larger share of people learn how to use it well, prompt it properly, and fit it into daily workflows, a great many white-collar roles will come under real pressure. (ilo.org)

There is already a clear trend here, across the UK, the EU and the US. The picture is not simply “AI destroys jobs”, but it is equally naïve to pretend this is just another harmless productivity tool. The World Economic Forum says that by 2030, 22% of today’s jobs will be disrupted, with 92 million roles displaced globally even as new ones are created. The IMF has also warned that AI will affect a very large share of jobs, especially in advanced economies. (World Economic Forum)

In the UK, business adoption is still uneven, but it is moving. ONS reported in 2025 that 77% of businesses were not planning to adopt AI in the next three months — which also means a meaningful minority already were, or were actively considering it. And later ONS research found that nearly a third of workers thought AI could put their job at risk. (Office for National Statistics)

In Europe, the debate has clearly moved beyond theory. The European Commission reported that more than 70% of Europeans believe AI improves productivity, while 84% think it needs careful management in the workplace. (Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion)

So the real question is not whether AI will replace some people. It will. The real question is what happens next.

Do those people move organically into new roles without too much friction? Some will. But many will not — especially where jobs are heavily built around repeatable cognitive tasks. The ILO’s 2025 update found that clerical work remains among the most exposed categories, with professional and technical roles also becoming more exposed as generative AI improves. (ilo.org)

That is why I do not think “the market will sort it out” is a serious answer. We are likely to need structured reskilling and adaptation programmes — not as a slogan, but as a practical labour-market response. Not everyone who loses demand in one role will smoothly reinvent themselves as an AI product manager, automation consultant or data specialist.

Some will need retraining. Some will need transition support. Some will need entirely new pathways into adjacent sectors.

Otherwise, we may end up with a deeply awkward economy: more productive on paper, but more socially brittle underneath.

What do you think?

Will displaced professionals adapt naturally and find their place without too much trouble? Or do governments, employers and education systems need to start building serious reskilling infrastructure now? I would be very interested in your view.