AI Adoption in China Leads to Job Losses and Worker Anxiety
Rapid government-supported AI adoption in China has led to job losses and wage cuts across multiple industries including programming and translation. Workers report anxiety about replacement, though some are transitioning to AI-enabled business ventures despite reduced earnings.
What happened
Computer programmer Fei Zhaojun was laid off from his job in Beijing together with about 160 colleagues two weeks after his boss asked whether AI could replace humans in coding jobs.
The share of Chinese industrial enterprises using AI models and agents jumped to 47.5% in 2025 from 9.6% in 2024, with rapid AI adoption occurring across computer programming, script writing, and physical tasks.
Government policies in China encourage people and businesses to use AI applications and robotics in all aspects of life, supporting this widespread adoption.
Reported impact
Workers across multiple fields report anxiety about job replacement, with some already pushed out of their jobs.
Pay in the translation industry has been cut by more than half compared to previous years, according to part-time translator Du Qinchun.
Popular college programs in foreign languages have increasingly fallen out of favor as AI-powered translation tools have become more widespread.
Index analysis
Some economists believe widespread job displacement from AI adoption might eventually undermine the strength of China's economy, the world's second largest.
Despite significant job losses and pay cuts, there is reportedly far less anti-AI sentiment in China than elsewhere, with individuals who have left traditional workplaces often eager to experiment with AI-enabled businesses and independent ventures.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.