Left Behind by the Machine: AI-Driven Labor Displacement and the Failure of America's Social Safety Net

In line with the continued advancement of artificial intelligence, an unprecedented number of people employed in office work, administration, and service jobs face long-term job displacement at speeds that are beyond the scope of current policy solutions. The American social safety system, predicated on the policies implemented under the Social Security Act of 1935, was conceived under the assumption of cyclical short-term employment losses, not structural technology-induced employment loss. As such, this paper will examine the extent of job displacement brought about by AI development, how the burden of such displacement is disproportionately borne by women and Midwestern workers with less adaptive capacity, and how the gulf has widened between the recognition of the issue at the federal level and its implementation.

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June 19, 2026

Inquiry-driven, this project may reflect personal views, aiming to enrich problem-related discourse.

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Sanjar Salomov

2026 Spring Fellow

Sanjar is currently a student at Adlai E. Stevenson High School, where his academic journey is marked by an exploration of economics, public policy, and the intersection of technology and social equity. Outside the classroom, he is a member of the school's water polo team and enjoys playing chess and pickleball with friends.

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