Why the next billion jobs will be created by entrepreneurs, not algorithms in World Economy News 22/06/2026 Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping work. For business leaders, this means higher productivity, faster decision-making and lower costs. But for the millions of young people entering labour markets each year, it raises the question of where the next wave of jobs will come from. Too often, technology is treated as if it was a job strategy in itself. But tools don’t create livelihoods, they only gain meaning when people deploy them to build businesses, solve real problems and open new markets. According to the World Bank, 1.2 billion young people in developing and emerging economies will reach working age over the next 10–15 years, but current estimates suggest only around 400 million jobs will be created to meet that demand. That’s why the next billion jobs created for these young people are unlikely to come from AI algorithms alone. They will come from entrepreneurs using those algorithms to create value in the real world. A 2026 study by the National Bureau of Economic Research surveyed nearly 6,000 executives across four major economies and found that more than 80% have seen no measurable impact from AI on either employment or productivity over the past three years. But at the same time, around 40% of global employment is exposed to AI-driven change, according to the World Economic Forum. And the International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that roughly one in four young people worldwide (approximately 262 million people), are currently not in employment, education or training. Exposure to disruption is not the same as job loss, and youth unemployment is not inevitable as a result of AI. But societies must create the conditions for new industries and enterprises to take root in the AI era. How entrepreneurs create sustainable livelihoods Major technological breakthroughs – from electrification to the internet – delivered broad economic gains, but o