AI to Generate 1.7 Million More Jobs Than It Eliminates by 2030: Gartner Report

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New Delhi: Artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to create more jobs than it displaces by the end of this decade, resulting in a net gain of 1.7 million jobs globally by 2030, according to a report released by business and technology research firm Gartner on Thursday.

The report estimates that AI will generate approximately 10.6 million new jobs worldwide while eliminating 8.9 million existing positions over the same period, suggesting that the technology's overall impact on employment could be positive despite significant changes in workforce requirements.

"Organisations most advanced in AI execution view AI not as a replacement for labour, but as a catalyst to reinvent operations and rebalance workforce and technology capabilities to compete in changing markets. They ensure AI's economic value goes beyond replacing labour," said Helen Poitevin, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner.

The report noted that AI-related business decisions have already begun influencing recruitment and workforce planning. In 2026, executives deferred the creation and hiring of 1.3 million positions, while approximately 2.2 million jobs were eliminated and 1.6 million new jobs were created.

By 2030, around five million people are expected to experience delayed hiring as business and IT executives postpone creating new positions.

"Deferred jobs are not the same as lost jobs. They simply aren't created," said John Lovelock, Distinguished VP Analyst and Chief of Research at Gartner.

According to the report, between 0.4 per cent and 1.8 per cent of workers globally could lose their jobs directly because of AI by 2030. However, the larger impact will be on the nature of employment, with more than 20 per cent of the global workforce, equivalent to approximately 435.5 million employees, expected to adapt to changing job requirements, responsibilities and working processes.

The impact is likely to vary significantly across industries. Asset-intensive sectors are projected to create 6.4 million jobs while eliminating six million, resulting in a net employment gain of 400,000 positions. AI-related job losses in this segment are expected to affect around 0.4 per cent of its workforce.

Poitevin cautioned businesses against applying uniform assumptions about AI-driven employment changes across different sectors and geographical regions.

"AI job impacts are unevenly distributed across geographies, job functions and industries. The worst mistake that a business and IT executive can make is to apply lessons from one industry or role to another which can lead to poor errors in judgement and missed targets," she said.

The report also highlighted contrasting employment trends in the public and technology sectors.

The public sector is projected to gain 400,000 jobs while losing 900,000 positions by 2030, resulting in a net reduction of 500,000 jobs. Gartner noted that investments in public-sector AI may not be sufficient to address future severe skill shortages arising from other factors.

In contrast, the technology sector is expected to witness stronger employment growth, with 1.9 million new jobs projected against 400,000 job losses. AI-related displacement in this sector could affect approximately 1.8 per cent of its workforce.

The findings suggest that while AI will eliminate certain roles, it will also create new employment opportunities and reshape existing occupations. The ability of businesses and workers to adapt to evolving skill requirements is likely to play a crucial role in determining how the benefits of AI-driven transformation are distributed.