Boston College study finds AI pushes older office workers out of US jobs

A research project by the Center for Pension Research at Boston College, led by economist Jeffrey Sonnenbacher, examined U.S. labor‑market data for workers aged 55 and older before and after the 2022 rollout of ChatGPT. The analysis compared employment trends with an automation exposure index for various professions.

The study shows that the traditional employment advantage older office‑based professionals once enjoyed has eroded. Between 2014 and 2025, the share of programmers over 55 who left their jobs rose by more than 25 %, while accountants and auditors saw a rise of about 22 %. By contrast, physically‑focused occupations such as masons increased by only around 2 %. Older workers in analytical, repetitive roles are increasingly exiting the labor force before retirement and face far lower chances of re‑employment, highlighting growing vulnerability of seasoned office staff to generative AI.