A Change Research national survey of 2,702 registered voters, conducted April 3-7, 2026, asked people about opportunities for human workers as AI becomes increasingly capable. Artificial intelligence has expanded into professional settings, prompting new questions about what work looks like when machines can do more of it.

 

What Voters Say About Work, Purpose, and AI

Nearly 1,000 voters answered in their own words: if AI keeps doing more of the work, what should people do to earn a living and feel like they have a purpose? The responses fall into a few broad categories: human connection and care as irreplaceable work, skilled trades as the practical alternative, and, for some, a rethinking of whether earned income should remain the foundation of purpose.

 

Trades and Skilled Manual Labor

One of the more frequently cited paths forward involves skilled trades. Voters across parties and age groups argue that physical, hands-on work is difficult to automate and undervalued in a way that may soon change.

“Learn a trade. AI will never turn a wrench.” – White Woman, 50 to 64, Republican

“The trades will never be replaced, so people should not look down on blue collar work.” – White Man, 35 to 49, Independent

“I am a tradesman. I have been for 40 years. I feel that getting your hands dirty and coming home tired from a good productive day’s work and seeing your family succeeding is the greatest reward ever.” – White Man, 50 to 64, Republican

 

“People should move from white collar desk jobs to trade related jobs that require a human to complete. That makes a person more indispensable and brings about an increase in job security.” – Hispanic Man, 18 to 34, Republican

The trades theme is the most common response among Republicans in the open-ended data, appearing at roughly twice the rate of Democratic responses. Among age groups, it appears most commonly among voters 50 to 64 and 65+.

Not every respondent sees trades as a practical answer for everyone. One voter captured the tension directly:

“How are people expected to work if AI is going to do their job? Are we all supposed to be landscapers?”

White Woman, 35 to 49, Republican

 

Human Connection, Care, and Creativity

The most common theme across all open-ended responses involves work that requires human presence, judgment, and emotional connection. Respondents across age groups and parties point to nursing, teaching, therapy, and caregiving as spaces where AI cannot substitute for a person.

“Do what AI can’t do: nursing, childcare, anything in the build trades.” – White Woman, 65+, Democrat

“There is still work that requires a combination of human judgement, creativity, imagination, and physical response.” – Black Man, 50 to 64, Democrat

“AI can never replace human connection and interaction. People should focus on jobs that focus on human connection, like therapist or psychologist.” – Asian/Pacific Islander Woman, 35 to 49, Democrat

This theme is most prominent among voters aged 18 to 34, where it appears at the highest rate of any age group. 

“People will have to oversee AI and work with it in order to earn a living. Our concepts of job and employment will also fundamentally change, as did people’s focus on art and language once writing and photography were invented.” – Asian/Pacific Islander Woman, 18 to 34, Democrat

Some respondents extend the argument toward a broader reframing of what work should be:

“Redefine work as human-centric activity: creativity, care work, medical work, craftspeople, tradesmen, coaches, therapists, mentors, community builders, educators, civic service, and volunteerism. Decouple income from labor.” – White Woman, 35 to 49, Democrat

The concern about creativity and the arts crosses party lines. Older Republican women are among those calling for its protection in schools.

“Support creativity, art, music, dance, and performance arts in schools.” – White Woman, 65+, Republican

 

Universal Basic Income

A share of respondents, concentrated among younger voters and Democrats, call for universal basic income (UBI) or a shift away from the premise that earned income is the foundation of purpose.

“There should be a universal income which allows people to pursue what fulfills them.” – White Man, 50 to 64, Democrat

“They should be free to pursue passion projects and receive a universal basic income. We can call it the AI dividend or something.” – White Man, 35 to 49, Democrat

“For every job replaced by AI, that company should contribute to a Universal Basic Income fund.” – Hispanic Man, 50 to 64, Democrat

UBI responses appear in Democratic open-ends at roughly seven times the rate of Republican responses. Among age groups, UBI responses peak among voters 35 to 49. 

“A UBI would be the best approach to make people feel like life is actually affordable. It costs to be alive and the fact that most people can barely afford to do it is devastating the American worker.” – Hispanic Man, 35 to 49, Democrat

Concern about where the economic gains from AI land is not limited to Democrats.

“AI is a blessing and a curse. All the monetary savings cannot be allowed to concentrate in a few hands.” – White Woman, 50 to 64, Republican

“AI, if implemented correctly, is more likely to give people the freedom to work on more human endeavors than it is to leave people without a living.” – Hispanic Man, 35 to 49, Republican

 

Fear and Uncertainty

Fear and uncertainty appear across all age groups and party lines in the open-ended responses, with no single group clearly dominating.

“It is already happening, office workers are being replaced with AI. Like auto workers were replaced with robots. In the next 50 years there probably won’t be a single job that a human will be needed for. That is terrifying. I am an electrician so my job is safe for 10-20 years but as the technology advances even I won’t be essential.” – White Man, 50 to 64, Democrat

“This is the replacement that people should be worried about in this country. The younger people are getting squeezed out and the big companies don’t care. All they care about is their bottom line.” – Black Man, 65+, Democrat

“As a lifetime teacher, AI terrifies me as it removes the need for independent thought.” – White Woman, 65+, Democrat

Voters aged 35 to 49 show the highest rates of fear and UBI calls of any age group in the open-ended responses.

“There will be nothing to do. Greed is what is pushing this garbage forward and it will end with those who aren’t billionaires starving and dying horrifically.” – White Woman, 18 to 34, Independent

 

Adaptation and Resilience

Most voters in the open-ended responses name a path forward. Comparisons to past technological disruptions appear across age groups and party lines.

“AI is not different from the Industrial Revolution. People lost jobs then too. It’s all a matter of upskilling, which people should always do.” – Asian/Pacific Islander Woman, 35 to 49, Democrat

“People are resilient and will reinvent themselves and learn more skills. Some jobs cannot be performed by AI but require a higher skill set. We’ll need to get that training and become the best.” – Black Woman, 65+, Democrat

“People still have many jobs. The AI just makes the pie bigger.” – Asian/Pacific Islander Woman, 50 to 64, Republican

“We always find ways to reinvent the American workforce.” – White Man, 65+, Republican

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Methodology

Change Research conducted this survey of 2,702 registered voters from April 3-7, 2026. The modeled margin of error is ±2.0 percentage points.

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