Artificial intelligence is changing the workplace: which professions are at risk?

The global labor market is on the verge of a fundamental transformation — generative artificial intelligence technologies could affect one in four jobs worldwide, according to a new analysis published by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the Polish National Research Institute (NASK).

The report, released on May 20, provides the most comprehensive assessment of how AI technologies will affect nearly 30,000 professional roles and how to prepare for these changes.

Which industries will be most affected by generative AI?

The researchers grouped jobs according to an “impact index” for generative AI technologies. According to it, about 25 percent of jobs overall, and 34 percent in developed countries, could be affected by AI. This impact rate is higher in women than in men — in particular, women account for 9.6 percent of high-risk jobs.

The potential for automation is particularly high in sectors related to office work and intellectual labor - finance, media, software. In these areas, generative AI can easily perform tasks such as document preparation, analysis, text writing, and database management.

“Jobs will not disappear, but will be reshaped”

The authors of the report note that the advent of these technologies will reshape jobs rather than eliminate them. That is, it is unlikely that humans will be completely replaced by AI - on the contrary, new tasks, skills, and forms of work will emerge.

“We have gone beyond theory, developing a methodology based on real work tasks,” says ILO researcher Pavel Gmirek.

What should countries do?

Countries need to prepare for these changes, retrain workers, and develop digital skills that are compatible with AI. The ILO and NASK are calling on governments, trade unions and the private sector to work together.

“Social dialogue, inclusive policies and realistic analysis can turn AI into an opportunity for workers,” said Janine Berg, ILO economist.

The organizations launched this report as the first in a series of broader analyses on generative artificial intelligence. Future reports are expected to include specific recommendations for developing countries.

The Zamin.uz editorial team reiterates the need to pay due attention to the issue of artificial intelligence, which is playing a significant role in labor markets and social policies around the world. What do you think - is your work also under the influence of AI?