The managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, has warned that artificial intelligence (AI) could significantly disrupt the global labour market, putting millions of jobs at risk, particularly for young workers.
Georgieva said AI could augment, downgrade or eliminate about 40 per cent of jobs worldwide, highlighting the scale of the potential transformation facing workers and employers.
She made the remarks on Monday during a panel discussion at the 2026 IMF-World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok, Thailand.
Describing the development as a “slow-moving tsunami”, the IMF chief warned that the growing adoption of AI could reshape employment opportunities and deepen concerns about the future of work.
Young people entering the labour market could face particular challenges as employers increasingly adopt AI-powered technologies to automate tasks, improve efficiency and reduce operational costs.
While AI could create new opportunities and enhance productivity, its growing use could also make some existing roles less relevant, forcing workers to acquire new skills to remain competitive.
The warning comes amid mounting global debate over how governments, businesses and educational institutions should prepare workers for the rapid advancement of AI.
Georgieva’s remarks underscore the need for countries to strengthen skills development, invest in education and prepare young people for an evolving employment landscape.
As AI becomes increasingly integrated into workplaces, policymakers face the challenge of ensuring that technological progress does not leave large sections of the workforce behind.
