Artificial intelligence is cutting about 16,000 US jobs a month on a net basis, according to Goldman Sachs economist Elsie Peng. The estimate covers the past year and includes a 0.1 percentage point nudge to the unemployment rate.

The net figure combines roughly 25,000 jobs a month eliminated through AI substitution with about 9,000 a month created through AI augmentation. Unlike earlier waves of automation, which mostly hit blue-collar work, AI is targeting office roles first. Gen Z and entry-level white-collar workers are bearing a disproportionate share of the impact.

Call centers, software publishing, management consulting and advertising are the hardest-hit sectors. US call-center employment now trails its trend by 39 percent. The highest substitution risk falls on telephone operators, insurance claims clerks, bill collectors, customer service representatives and data entry staff.

The findings suggest the AI transition is already reshaping the labor market. Peng’s analysis indicates the displacement is accelerating faster than new roles are appearing to absorb it.