Only 9% of Workers in 60 Countries Trust Their Governments to Share AI's Economic Gains Fairly

The global AI revolution is reshaping industries at a pace that has left workers around the world feeling unheard, underrepresented, and increasingly skeptical of the institutions meant to protect them. A sweeping new survey published by Rest of World — conducted by the Windfall Trust in partnership with the Collective Intelligence Project — reveals a stark disconnect between what workers actually want from the AI transition and what policymakers and corporations are delivering. Metaintro breaks down what these findings mean for job seekers navigating an uncertain labor market.

The survey polled more than 1,000 respondents across 60 countries, making it one of the most geographically diverse assessments of worker sentiment toward AI ever conducted. The results paint a picture of deep institutional distrust, pragmatic worker priorities, and a global workforce that overwhelmingly values meaningful employment over financial handouts.

What Did the Global Survey Actually Find?

The headline figure is striking: across all 60 countries surveyed, only 9% of workers trust their national governments to distribute the economic gains from the AI transition fairly. That number alone should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers who assume they have a mandate to manage this transformation.

But the distrust does not stop at government. A majority of respondents facing the threat of AI-driven job displacement said they do not trust companies or governments to manage the transition fairly. Workers are watching trillion-dollar technology companies post record profits while their own job security erodes, and the gap between corporate AI investment and worker protection has never been more visible.

The Windfall Trust survey asked respondents three fundamental questions: who do you trust, what do you want, and what would a fair response look like? The answers consistently pointed to a mismatch — the systems people trust to actually deliver results are not the ones currently being designed with their input.

Why Do Workers Prefer Jobs Over Guaranteed Income?

Perhaps the most counterintuitive finding challenges a popular assumption in technology and policy circles: when given a choice between guaranteed income and guaranteed jobs, the majority of respondents chose jobs. This preference held across every region surveyed, including among workers already in financially precarious situations.

This is not merely an economic calculation. Workers are making a statement about what employment means to them beyond a paycheck. Work provides identity, routine, social connection, and a sense of contributing to something larger than oneself. The universal basic income conversation, while well-intentioned, may fundamentally misread what workers in the Global South and beyond actually need as AI reshapes their industries.

For job seekers, this finding validates something many already feel instinctively: having a job matters in ways that a monthly deposit cannot replace. The challenge now is ensuring that the jobs available in an AI-driven economy are meaningful, stable, and adequately compensated.

How Are Different Regions Responding to the AI Transition?

The survey revealed fascinating regional variations that underscore how differently the AI transition is being experienced around the world.

India, which provided the largest share of respondents, showed significant concern. Sixty percent of Indian workers believe the technology reshaping their industries will reduce the availability of good jobs. Another 40% expect their own roles to change fundamentally within a decade. For a country that has positioned itself as a global technology hub and a major destination for outsourced AI training work, these numbers suggest that proximity to the technology does not translate into confidence about its benefits.

Southeast Asia presented a more nuanced picture. In the region, 61% expect the economic benefits of AI to eventually reach them — a relatively optimistic outlook. However, when asked how those benefits should be delivered, 57% chose free public services over direct cash payments. This preference held across every income group, suggesting that workers in Southeast Asia see collective infrastructure investment as more reliable than individual payouts.

Kenya emerged as the survey's most optimistic nation, with 80% of respondents expecting to benefit from the AI transition. However, Kenyan respondents also expressed clear preferences about delivery mechanisms, favoring direct digital channels over traditional government institutions. Their optimism comes with conditions: they want benefits delivered through systems they actually trust and can access.

Workers in Kenya also articulated specific needs, stating they want AI systems that can address basic necessities — healthcare diagnostics, agricultural decision-making tools for farmers, and practical applications that serve everyday life rather than corporate efficiency metrics.

What Does the Trust Gap Mean for the Global Workforce?

The 9% trust figure represents more than a polling statistic. It signals a legitimacy crisis for the institutions that are supposed to govern one of the most significant economic transitions in modern history. When 91% of workers across 60 countries do not believe their governments will distribute AI's gains fairly, the social contract around technological progress is fundamentally broken.

This trust deficit has real consequences for the labor market. Workers who do not believe institutions will protect them are more likely to resist AI adoption, less likely to invest in reskilling programs offered by those same institutions, and more likely to experience the transition as something being done to them rather than with them.

According to ADP Research, employee concerns about job loss due to AI have skyrocketed from 28% in 2024 to 40% in 2026. Mercer's Global Talent Trends 2026 report found similar spikes in anxiety. And ManpowerGroup's Global Talent Barometer 2026 identified a growing trend of "job hugging" — workers clinging to current positions out of fear rather than pursuing growth opportunities.

The convergence of these data points from multiple research organizations paints a clear picture: the global workforce is scared, skeptical, and feeling left out of the decisions that will shape their futures.

What Is AI Actually Doing to Workers Right Now?

While policymakers debate theoretical frameworks and tech leaders promise productivity gains, workers on the ground are experiencing the AI transition in very tangible ways. The disconnect between the promise and the reality is widening.

As Metaintro CEO Lacey Kaelani noted in a discussion with ZDNet, AI has the potential to eliminate tedious busywork that drains professionals' energy, but automating repetitive tasks also removes the incidental learning that happens through seeing data and patterns firsthand. Engineers doing routine data validation, for example, often noticed important product insights through that seemingly mundane work — insights that disappear when the task is handed to an algorithm.

This observation cuts to the heart of the survey's findings. Workers are not opposed to AI in principle. They recognize its potential to eliminate drudgery and improve efficiency. What they resist is a top-down implementation that treats their experience, knowledge, and preferences as irrelevant to the design process. The Windfall Trust survey confirms that the AI systems being built are consistently not the ones workers would choose if given a voice.

The World Economic Forum has acknowledged this tension, noting that while technology has always displaced certain jobs, the current pace of AI adoption is outstripping the development of support systems for affected workers. The OECD has similarly called for more inclusive approaches to AI governance that center worker input.

What This Means for Your Career?

If you are a job seeker or working professional in 2026, this survey carries several practical implications.

First, invest in skills that AI cannot easily replicate. The workers most vulnerable to displacement are those performing tasks that are highly standardized and repeatable. Critical thinking, creative problem-solving, interpersonal communication, and domain-specific expertise remain areas where human workers hold a decisive advantage. The survey's emphasis on workers wanting jobs — not just income — suggests that roles requiring distinctly human capabilities will remain in demand.

Second, do not wait for institutions to protect you. With only 9% of workers trusting governments to manage this transition fairly, the message is clear: take ownership of your career trajectory. Seek out reskilling opportunities, build transferable skills, and stay informed about how AI is reshaping your specific industry. Platforms like Metaintro can help you stay ahead of labor market shifts and identify emerging opportunities.

Third, advocate for worker input in AI implementation. Whether through unions, professional associations, or direct engagement with employers, pushing for worker representation in AI adoption decisions is not just a political stance — it is a practical career strategy. The survey shows that worker-informed AI systems are more likely to create outcomes that preserve meaningful employment.

Fourth, consider global mobility. The regional variations in the survey suggest that some labor markets may navigate the AI transition more effectively than others. Southeast Asia's preference for public services investment and Kenya's digital-first optimism represent different models for managing the transition, and workers willing to look beyond their home markets may find better opportunities.

People Also Asked

Q: Will AI eliminate more jobs than it creates globally by 2030?

A: Current evidence is mixed. The World Economic Forum estimates that AI will create 97 million new roles by 2030 while displacing 85 million, resulting in a net positive. However, the transition period will be painful for workers in directly affected sectors, and the new jobs may require skills that displaced workers do not yet have. The Windfall Trust survey shows that workers themselves are skeptical — 60% of Indian respondents believe AI will reduce the availability of good jobs, suggesting that even in optimistic projections, the quality of new positions matters as much as their quantity.

Q: What should workers do if they do not trust their government to manage the AI transition?

A: The survey's 9% trust figure suggests this is the norm, not the exception. Workers can take practical steps: join industry-specific professional networks for peer support and information sharing, pursue independent reskilling through online platforms and certifications, advocate for transparent AI policies at the employer level, and stay informed about labor protections in their jurisdiction. Building a personal career strategy that does not depend on institutional intervention is the most pragmatic approach in 2026.

Q: Why do workers globally prefer guaranteed jobs over guaranteed income?

A: The preference for jobs over income reflects something deeper than economics. Work provides structure, social identity, a sense of purpose, and community connection that a monthly payment cannot replicate. Even workers in financially precarious situations chose jobs, indicating that employment fulfills psychological and social needs beyond financial survival. For job seekers, this validates the importance of finding roles that offer meaning and growth, not just a paycheck.

Future-proof your career by staying ahead of the AI transformation reshaping the global labor market. Sign up for Metaintro to get the latest workforce insights, job opportunities, and career resources delivered directly to you.