AI and Jobs in 2026: Vanguard’s Job Growth Paradox, the IMF Warning, and What Business Leaders Must Do Now Shape

As artificial intelligence moves from experimentation to large-scale deployment, the conversation about jobs is finally shifting—from speculation to evidence. In this episode of the Macro AI Podcast, Gary and Scott unpack the most important recent research on AI and labor markets, including Vanguard’s 2025–2026 “Job Growth Paradox,” the IMF’s AI preparedness and global stability warnings, and the Roosevelt Institute’s analysis of who really captures AI-driven productivity gains. Rather than asking whether AI will eliminate jobs, this discussion explores a more nuanced—and more urgent—set of questions: Why are some of the most AI-exposed roles seeing higher wages and increased hiring? How does AI change demand, productivity, and firm-level growth? Why could AI widen global and organizational inequality if leaders aren’t intentional? What does the shift from task execution to direction and orchestration mean for leadership, talent, and career paths? Gary and Scott examine how AI is reshaping work at the task level, why demographics and labor scarcity matter more than most headlines suggest, and how agentic AI systems are accelerating the move toward an “economy of direction.” The episode closes with clear, practical guidance for executives on how to think about AI not as a cost-cutting tool—but as a capacity-expansion strategy that demands new leadership choices. If you’re a business leader trying to understand what AI really means for jobs, growth, and competitiveness in 2026, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. Send a Text to the AI Guides on the show!About your AI GuidesGary Sloperhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/gsloper/Scott Bryanhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/scottjbryan/ Macro AI Website: https://www.macroaipodcast.com/Macro AI LinkedIn Page:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/macro-ai-podcast/Gary's Free AI Readiness Assessment:https://macronetservices.com/events/the-comprehensive-guide-to-ai-readinessScott's Content & Bloghttps://www.macronomics.ai/blog