The Exceptional Women Alliance (EWA), a nonprofit focused on peer-to-peer mentoring for high-level women, released an interview with leadership expert Shelly Ashwill addressing AI's effect on the workforce. Ashwill, a former Verizon and HCLTech executive, noted that in the first quarter of 2026 alone, the tech industry laid off 80,000 globally—with roughly half linked to AI or automation.
Goldman Sachs economists estimate AI is reducing U.S. payroll growth by about 16,000 jobs monthly in AI-exposed industries, Ashwill said. These figures underscore immediate disruptions, particularly in sectors like tech, where automation is replacing routine tasks and leading to workforce reductions.
But the long-term picture is more complex. The World Economic Forum projects that AI will affect 92 million jobs globally by 2030, yet it also forecasts the creation of 170 million new roles—a net gain of 78 million jobs. Ashwill emphasized that AI is expected to augment rather than outright eliminate many positions, shifting demand toward skills like critical thinking, creativity, and emotional intelligence.
The interview, part of EWA's ongoing series, underscores a critical narrative: while AI-driven layoffs dominate headlines, the technology may ultimately expand the labor market. Ashwill argued that companies investing in reskilling and employee development will be best positioned to navigate the transition.
Counter-argument: Skeptics point out that the net job creation figures rely on optimistic assumptions about retraining capacity and economic adaptation. If reskilling efforts falter or AI adoption outpaces new role creation, the transitional period could see prolonged unemployment in affected sectors.