The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) says unskilled, part-time and administrative jobs are likely to be most vulnerable to replacement by AI as new technologies are deployed over the next 3-5 years.
The UK is facing a critical moment as more and more companies apply generative AI technology to automate everyday tasks in the workplace, the research team warns.
This first wave of AI applications has put workers at risk, the report says. However, the new second wave is leading to the automation of more jobs amid rapid progress in AI.
Analyzing 22.000 jobs in the economy, IPPR said 11% of jobs are currently held by workers at risk of being replaced by AI. However, the number could rise to 59% in the second wave as technologies evolve to handle increasingly complex processes.
In the first wave, AI affected routine tasks such as database management, planning, and inventory. With the next wave, it impacted jobs like database creation, copywriting, and graphic design.
Women will be affected more because “they are most likely to work in the riskiest occupations such as secretarial and administrative,” the IPPR report stated.
In the worst-case scenario of the second wave of AI, 7,9 million jobs could be displaced, with zero GDP growth within 3 to 5 years. In the best scenario, when the workforce is optimized thanks to AI, no one will lose their jobs, and the size of the economy can increase by 4%, equivalent to about 92 billion pounds per year.
IPPR argues that the UK government can act to prevent a “jobs apocalypse” and help harness the power of AI to boost economic growth and raise living standards.
According to Carsten Jung, senior economist at IPPR, AI creates either a major disruption of the labor market or a strong boost to economic growth. Whatever the scenario, it will change the game for millions of people.
“But technology is not destiny and the jobs apocalypse is not inevitable – governments, employers and unions have the opportunity to make important decisions now to ensure tell us to manage this new technology well. If they don't act soon, it may be too late." Experts recommend.
(According to The Guardian)
