Richard D. Johnson

Future of Work Economist

Expertise: Economics, data science, industry trends and career growth

Richard Johnson is a future of work economist with a background in data science and economics. He previously worked as a future of work economist at Glassdoor. Johnson holds a master’s in computer science with a focus on economics from University of Chicago.

16 Articles

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Richard D. Johnson Richard D. Johnson
Updated on October 21, 2026

AI Still Needs Humans. These Jobs Prove It.

Although AI is replacing some jobs, it’s simultaneously creating entirely new categories as well. A whole shadow labor market is evolving to support AI systems as they become embedded in businesses around the world.

Expert Contributors
Artificial Intelligence
Job Interviews
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Richard D. Johnson Richard D. Johnson
Updated on September 10, 2026

AI Was Supposed to Take Your Job. What Happened?

The broad arrival of AI in the workplace was greeted with fears of a labor disaster, but the reality is far more nuanced. Understanding why jobs didn’t vanish tells us a lot about the future of AI.

Expert Contributors
Entrepreneurial Finance
Job Interviews
Image: Shutterstock / Built In
Richard D. Johnson Richard D. Johnson
Updated on August 26, 2026

What Is Tokenomics, and Why Is Everybody Talking About It?

Tokenomics is the pricing system that determines what a business’s AI usage costs. Understanding its principles allows better budgeting and planning.

Expert Contributors
Finance
Financial Forecasting
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Richard D. Johnson Richard D. Johnson
Updated on August 19, 2026

What Does Nvidia’s Latest Circular Financing Plan Mean for the Economy?

The chip manufacturing company is betting big on AI. Will it pay off?

Expert Contributors
Entrepreneurial Finance
Financial Analysis
Image: Shutterstock / Built In
Richard D. Johnson Richard D. Johnson
Updated on September 10, 2026

AI Is Everywhere. So Where Are the Productivity Gains?

AI usage is surging, but we haven’t seen a productivity boost in macro-level economic data. Are the benefits just a mirage?

Expert Contributors
Founders + Entrepreneurship
Financial Analysis
Image: Shutterstock / Built In
Richard D. Johnson Richard D. Johnson
Updated on June 22, 2026

Will Companies Pay Later for Today’s AI-Driven Layoffs?

Companies may have been too eager to gain short-term benefits from automation, and rehiring for transformed roles will be more expensive.

Expert Contributors
HR Operations
HR + Recruiting
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Richard D. Johnson Richard D. Johnson
Updated on June 11, 2026

How Google Zero Is Poised to Change the Internet — and the World Around It

Google’s embrace of AI-driven search will transform it from a gateway to the web into the final destination. What can we expect from the shift?

Expert Contributors
Search Engine Marketing (SEM)
Marketing
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Richard D. Johnson Richard D. Johnson
Updated on May 27, 2026

What SpaceX’s IPO Signals for the Future of Work

SpaceX has officially filed the paperwork for an IPO. Let’s take a closer look to see what it might signal for the future of the economy.

Expert Contributors
Editors' Picks
Finance
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Richard D. Johnson Richard D. Johnson
Updated on March 19, 2026

Can New Graduates Compete With AI?

The increasing adoption of AI automation is compressing early-career jobs. How should new graduates get a foothold in the economy now?

Expert Contributors
Employee Development
Artificial Intelligence
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Richard D. Johnson Richard D. Johnson
Updated on March 05, 2026

Will Agentic AI Actually Crash the Global Economy in 2 Years?

A recent article from Citrini Research suggests we’re on the verge of an AI-driven economic meltdown. How likely is their version of the future?

Expert Contributors
Entrepreneurial Finance
Editors' Picks
Image: Shutterstock / Built In
Richard D. Johnson Richard D. Johnson
Updated on February 23, 2026

Beyond the Tech Generalist: How to Navigate the New Era of Career Hyper-Specialization

As AI adoption accelerates, role specialization increases across the tech industry and, eventually, the economy at large. Our expert explains how to get ahead of the curve.

Expert Contributors
Technical Recruiting
Job Search
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Richard D. Johnson Richard D. Johnson
Updated on January 15, 2026

5 Trends That Will Shape the Future of Tech Work in 2026

Our expert looks at some of the macro trends that will shape the tech job economy this year.

Expert Contributors
Technical Recruiting
Job Search
Image: Shutterstock / Built In