US Primary Workers' Job-Finding Rate Falls 13 Points as AI-Exposed Roles Lag
Updated
Updated · Business Insider · Aug 14
US Primary Workers' Job-Finding Rate Falls 13 Points as AI-Exposed Roles Lag
2 articles · Updated · Business Insider · Aug 14
Summary
Primary workers—about 55% of the US labor pool—saw their job-finding rate drop 13 percentage points from a November 2022 peak to a September 2025 low, the steepest decline among worker groups in Richmond Fed analysis.
AI-exposed occupations showed the sharpest deterioration: job-finding rates had moved together across exposure levels before 2023, but worsened markedly in fields whose tasks overlap most with AI capabilities after ChatGPT's release.
Secondary workers, who make up about 14% of the labor pool and typically face weaker hiring odds, saw only a 2-point decline over the same period, underscoring an unusual hit to more stable, experienced workers.
The shift is also tightening entry-level hiring as generative AI boosts task productivity for less-experienced workers, while some experienced white-collar job seekers are accepting pay cuts to land roles.
July payroll data offered only limited relief: professional and business services and information added jobs, but the US still lost jobs overall, suggesting job searches may remain difficult.