New workplace research from Pearson, the world’s leading learning company, finds that white collar roles are under greater threat from generative AI than blue collar roles, as the technology takes a greater foothold in the global economy.
The latest installment of Pearson’s Skills Outlook series looks at ‘Gen AI Proof Jobs’ – analyzing the impact of generative AI on more than 5000 jobs in five countries – Australia, Brazil, India, the US and UK.
Looking specifically at the time spent on individual tasks in a working week, the research shows that around 30% of some white-collar roles could be done by generative AI. The findings also showed that less than 1% of time spent on tasks involved in many blue-collar jobs could be done by generative AI.
Many of the most affected white-collar roles contain repetitive tasks – such as scheduling appointments or answering and directing calls – that could be easily replicated by generative AI. The white-collar roles that are most generative AI proof tend to be the ones involving tasks related to mathematics, like engineers. Generative AI is currently notoriously inaccurate at maths computations, making those jobs a little more AI proof for the time being.
On the flip side, many blue-collar roles – such as landscapers, mechanics, or construction workers – include manual labor or customer service elements that can’t easily be replicated by generative AI.
In the US the most impacted jobs are (by % of time spent on tasks that can be automated or augmented by generative AI):
White-Collar Jobs
• Medical Secretaries (-40%)
• Statement Clerks (-38%)
• Billing, Cost, and Rate Clerks (-38%)
• Loan Interviewers and Clerks (-38%)
• Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks (-38%)
Blue-Collar Jobs
• Farm Products Buyer (-27%)
• Amusement and Recreation Attendants (-26%)
• Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop Hosts (-24%)
• Food Service Managers (-22)
• Computer-Controlled Machine Tool Operators, Metal and Plastic (-21%)
The least impacted jobs are:
White-Collar Jobs
• Chief Executives (-10%)
• Civil Engineers (-10%)
• Electrical Engineers (-11%)
• Sales Managers (-13%)
• Architectural and Engineering Managers (-13%)
Blue-Collar Jobs
• Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists (0%)
• Dishwashers (0%)
• Highway Maintenance Workers (0%)
• Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers (0%)
• Solderers and Brazers (0%)