GoDaddy: AI is a Job Creator, Not a Job Threat

Rhea-AI Summary

GoDaddy has revealed groundbreaking research showing that AI is driving job creation through small businesses. According to their study with UCLA Anderson Forecast, for every website published using GoDaddy Airo™, 20 jobs were created per county, with rural areas seeing 4.2 jobs and urban counties experiencing 22 jobs.

The research demonstrates significant business impacts: businesses using Airo with an Online Store generated up to 43% more sales and attracted 21% more traffic when adding a logo. Microbusiness website activity reached an all-time high in 2024, with engagement growing 13% from January to September. Among small business owners using AI tools, 72% reported increased productivity, and 61% reported higher revenues in the last six months.

Positive

• Each GoDaddy Airo website creates 20 jobs per county on average
• 43% increase in sales for businesses using Airo with Online Store
• 21% higher traffic for websites adding Airo-generated logos
• 13% growth in microbusiness website engagement
• 72% of AI tool users report increased productivity
• 61% of users report higher revenues in last 6 months
• 0.017 percentage-point reduction in unemployment rates per 10 new websites

Negative

• 38% of microbusiness owners lack knowledge about AI tools

Insights

Market Research Analyst

The UCLA Anderson Forecast partnership lends significant credibility to GoDaddy's research, providing compelling evidence that AI tools are driving tangible economic growth through small businesses. The 20:1 ratio of jobs created per website represents a remarkable multiplier effect, particularly noteworthy in urban counties where the impact reaches 22 jobs per website.

The stark contrast between urban (22 jobs) and rural (4.2 jobs) impact reveals important insights about digital infrastructure's role in economic development. This disparity suggests that complementary initiatives may be needed to help rural areas fully capitalize on AI-driven growth opportunities.

The 43% increase in sales for businesses using Airo with online stores is particularly significant when compared to typical e-commerce conversion rate improvements, which usually range from 5-15%. This suggests that GoDaddy's AI integration is delivering value well above industry standards.

The 13% growth in the engagement index surpassing pre-pandemic records is especially noteworthy, as it indicates sustainable growth rather than just a recovery to previous levels. This metric suggests that AI adoption is driving structural changes in how small businesses operate, not just temporary efficiency gains.

The revelation that 38% of microbusiness owners lack AI knowledge represents a substantial growth opportunity for GoDaddy. This education gap, combined with the demonstrated benefits of AI adoption, suggests significant untapped potential in the market that could drive future growth.

For every website published using GoDaddy Airo™ 20 jobs are created

TEMPE, Ariz., Feb. 19, 2025  /PRNewswire/ -- Artificial intelligence (AI) is already reshaping America's economy, and for the first time, GoDaddy reveals how small businesses—not only tech giants—are leading the charge with measurable job creation and local growth.

In 2024, AI dominated headlines with bold predictions about its transformative potential for big business in the future. Yet, GoDaddy, in partnership with UCLA Anderson Forecast, is flipping the script, delivering a first-of-its-kind analysis quantifying the present-day economic outcomes AI has driven for small businesses—and what it means for 2025.  

GoDaddy Airo™ is Driving Economic Growth Through Small Businesses
GoDaddy's research highlights how AI can be a powerful force for job creation and economic growth, especially when embraced by small businesses. Since the 2023 introduction of GoDaddy Airo, the company's AI powered experience, there has been a surge in microbusiness activity*, which in turn has created economic benefits across the United States. According to the research, the rollout of Airo is correlated with increases in job creation and reductions in unemployment at the local level.

Additionally, GoDaddy Airo has demonstrated significant impacts on sales and traffic for small businesses, enabling them to generate up to 43% more sales with GoDaddy Airo and an Online Store¹ and to attract up to 21% more traffic by adding a logo through GoDaddy Airo².

 This Combination is Creating Local Jobs and Economic Impact

• Job Creation: For every website published using GoDaddy Airo, 20 jobs were created per county, with rural counties seeing an average of 4.2 jobs and urban counties experiencing a boost of 22 jobs.
• Economic Impact: 10 new GoDaddy published websites per county were associated with a 0.017 percentage-point reduction in unemployment rates.
• Record Engagement: Microbusiness website activity surged to an all-time high in 2024, as measured by GoDaddy's engagement index, which grew by 13% from January to September, surpassing pre-pandemic records..

AI Delivered Small Business Growth and Lowered Barriers to Entry in 2024
While much of the mainstream AI narrative in 2024 focused on possibilities, GoDaddy's research shows actual outcomes and insight into entrepreneurial mindsets.

• Productivity and Revenue Growth: Among small business owners using AI tools like GoDaddy Airo, 72% reported increased productivity, and 61% reported higher revenues in the last six months alone.
• Lowered Barriers to Entry: The number of websites published surged since the release of AI tools like Airo. Despite these successes, 38% of microbusiness owners cited a lack of knowledge about AI signalling an opportunity for education in 2025.

2025 Will Be the Year of Impact
With a growing body of evidence, it's clear that small businesses—often secondary in AI discussions—are at the forefront of driving measurable change.

The data underscores how AI tools like GoDaddy Airo are not just driving small business online engagement but also making tangible contributions to job markets and local economies. With digital small businesses already creating seven jobs per entrepreneur on average¹, this additional boost from AI presents an unparalleled opportunity to strengthen local and national economies.

"Economic outcomes don't often materialize overnight, yet, in just under a year, GoDaddy's research shows how small businesses using AI tools are transforming local economies through job creation," said Alexandra Rosen, economist and global head of GoDaddy's Venture Forward research initiative. "GoDaddy Airo specifically is empowering small business owners to launch their businesses faster, create jobs, and grow local economies."

To learn more about The Impact of AI on Microbusinesses and how AI is shaping the future of small businesses, read the full report here: https://www.godaddy.com/ventureforward/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GoDaddyUCLA-Anderson_The-Impact-of-AI-on-Microbusinesses_20250211.pdf

Notes to Editor
* Microbusiness activity, indicated by website traffic/engagement. This index grew by 14 points (13%) between January and September 2024 to an all-time high of 122, beating previous record of 115 during the pandemic, when many small businesses were forced online.

Disclaimers
¹Comparison is based on the median results of Websites + Marketing sites created with an online store using GoDaddy Airo™ versus those that did not after purchasing a domain between January 1, 2024, and April 30, 2024, with at least 1 transaction.

²Based on the median results of US customers who built a site using GoDaddy Airo and added a logo versus those that did not between 1/1/2024 and 1/31/2024 and the traffic they received within 30 days of launching their site.

About GoDaddy 
GoDaddy helps millions of entrepreneurs globally start and scale their businesses. People come to GoDaddy to name their idea, build a website and logo, sell their products and services, and accept payments. GoDaddy Airo™, the company's AI-powered experience, makes growing a small business faster and easier by helping them to get their idea online in minutes, drive traffic and boost sales. GoDaddy's expert guides are available 24/7 to provide assistance. To learn more about the company, visit www.GoDaddy.com.

Source: GoDaddy Inc.

 

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SOURCE GoDaddy Inc.

FAQ

How many jobs does each GoDaddy Airo (GDDY) website create in 2024?

Each website published using GoDaddy Airo creates an average of 20 jobs per county, with 4.2 jobs in rural counties and 22 jobs in urban counties.

What is the sales increase for businesses using GoDaddy Airo (GDDY) with Online Store?

Businesses using GoDaddy Airo with Online Store generate up to 43% more sales compared to those that don't.

How much did GoDaddy (GDDY) microbusiness engagement grow in 2024?

GoDaddy's microbusiness engagement index grew by 13% from January to September 2024, reaching an all-time high of 122.

What percentage of GoDaddy Airo (GDDY) users reported revenue growth in 2024?

61% of small business owners using GoDaddy Airo reported higher revenues in the last six months of 2024.

How does GoDaddy Airo (GDDY) impact website traffic with logo addition?

Websites adding a logo through GoDaddy Airo attract up to 21% more traffic compared to those without logos.