The productivity revolution driven by AI agents dominated this week’s workforce news. Industries like banking and software saw 27% productivity growth since 2018—nearly four times higher than low-AI sectors like hospitality. PwC’s global study of nearly a billion job ads found 3x higher revenue growth per employee in AI-exposed fields, with workers earning 56% higher wages for AI-related skills. Carol Stubbings of PwC highlighted that combining Agentic AI with corporate culture shifts unlocks "dramatic new opportunities" for reimagining work.

However, entry-level job losses emerged as a critical concern. The World Economic Forum reported 40% of employers plan to reduce roles where AI automates tasks, particularly impacting younger workers in the US. Palantir CEO Alex Karp emphasized that while AI could be "net accretive" to jobs, unchecked adoption risks "deep societal upheavals". His comments followed reports that US firms are hiring more low-cost Indian workers for AI-supported roles instead of domestic graduates.

Global labor shifts accelerated as companies like Palantir expanded AI healthcare partnerships (e.g., with TeleTracking for hospital systems) while cutting traditional entry points for junior staff. Over 49% of US Gen Z job seekers now feel their college degrees hold less value due to AI competition.

Bright spots included reskilling successes in automating industries. Despite fears, job numbers grew in highly automatable roles as workers transitioned to AI-augmented positions. Experts urge businesses to pair AI tools with internal mobility programs—a strategy shown to maintain talent pipelines while boosting efficiency.

The week closed with stark warnings about balancing speed and stability. While Agentic AI drives record productivity, leaders like Karp stressed that "we have to work very hard" to ensure workforce gains aren’t offset by social inequality.