Business & Finance
Economists examine potential artificial intelligence impact as real wages face pressure
New research links exposure to artificial intelligence with slower wage growth and reduced entry-level tech openings.
The short version
- Inflation-adjusted US wages fell 0.4% year-over-year through June, alongside a historical drop in labor's share of national business output.[CNBC]
- An Apollo Global Management study indicates workers in AI-exposed roles had 6.7 percentage points slower real-wage growth post-2023, though overall employment was unaffected.[CNBC]
- A New York City report shows entry-level tech job postings fell 49% from 2022 to 2025 as computer science graduates surpassed available roles.[Business Insider]
- Economists note data limitations in early research, leaving the exact degree of AI's role in wage deceleration uncertain.[CNBC]
Key facts
- Inflation-adjusted wages and salaries fell 0.4% year-over-year through June, according to the Employment Cost Index.[CNBC]
- Labor's share of nonfarm business income dropped to 52.8% in Q2 2026, marking its lowest point since tracking began in 1947.[CNBC]
- An Apollo Global Management study found real-wage growth was 6.7 percentage points lower after 2023 for workers in AI-exposed roles compared to less-exposed jobs, with no clear effect on overall employment.[CNBC]
- In New York City, entry-level tech job postings dropped 49% between 2022 and 2025 according to the Center for an Urban Future.[Business Insider]
- Demand for AI skills in entry-level tech listings surged by more than 8,000% post-2022.[Business Insider]
What remains uncertain
- The Apollo study relied on a sample of only 321 usable occupations out of roughly 800, with only 11 meeting its high AI exposure threshold.[CNBC]
- A Dallas Fed analysis found no direct link between general wages and AI exposure, though it cautioned younger workers could experience localized wage pressure.[CNBC]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.