Separate fact from fiction: AI and the future of work
At the Exceptional Women Alliance (EWA), we enable high-level women to mentor each other to achieve personal and professional success through sisterhood. As the nonprofit organization’s founder, chair, and CEO, I am honored to share insights from thought leaders who are part of our peer-to-peer mentoring community. This month I introduce Shelly Ashwill, who has over three decades of leadership experience with Verizon and HCLTech. She led large global B2B organizations and is passionate about coaching and employee development as AI reshapes workforce norms. Q: What is AI’s impact on the current workforce regarding job losses or growth? Shelly Ashwill: AI is impacting today’s workforce, and the speed and scale of change are remarkable. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, the tech industry reportedly laid off 80,000 workers globally, with about half of those layoffs linked to AI or automation. Goldman Sachs economists estimate AI is reducing U.S. payroll growth by around 16,000 jobs monthly in AI-exposed industries. Those numbers attract attention—but they only tell part of the story. According to the World Economic Forum, AI will affect 92 million jobs globally by 2030. However 170 million new roles could be created. That means 80 million net new jobsover the next several years. Several forces are driving this shift. Populations are growing, people live longer, and many will remain in the workforce later in life. Technological progress creates new types of roles. Within AI, new positions are emerging to train, manage, and govern these systems. AI trainers, governance and compliance specialists, and prompt engineers are becoming important as organizations adopt AI responsibly. The key takeaway? AI is transforming work, not simply eliminating it. Q: What does this mean for employees working in the tech sector? Shelly: For employees in technology, the message is clear: Adapt now! Conduct a self-assessment of your skills and experience. As you compete for new opportunitie