A new study from UK-based tech provider Elevate has named data entry clerks as the job most likely to disappear to AI. The report said there is a 95% chance that AI will replace these clerks completely by 2030, with a projected fall in job growth of 25%.
Telemarketers are close behind with a 94% automation risk and the number of positions could go down by 21%. Cashiers follow with a 93% chance of automation and an 11% drop in job growth. Receptionists and billing clerks are also listed in the top five, with automation risks of 91% and 89%.
Perhaps less expected is the inclusion of legal assistants, who face an 88% chance of automation. Proofreaders, admin assistants, production workers and customer service representatives also feature among the 10 most exposed jobs.
Goldman Sachs has reached similar conclusions in its own study. It projected that AI could replace the equivalent of 300 million full-time jobs worldwide. Around a quarter of all jobs could be fully automated, while 2/3 in the US and Europe are exposed to some level of automation.
Which Roles Appear Safest?
While clerical and repetitive work faces high exposure, Elevate’s research found that creative and judgement driven roles are safer. Public relations specialists and interior designers are at the bottom of the risk table, both with AI-only risk scores of 1. Their automation risk sits at just 24% and 25% respectively and both fields are expected to grow over the next five years.
Lawyers are also among the least threatened, with a 31% automation risk and projected job growth of 5%. Marketing managers and video game designers follow, both tied to fields that rely heavily on ideas, design and human judgement.
Nexford University mentioned that some professions are almost impossible to digitise. Teachers, judges, CEOs, HR managers, psychologists and surgeons are all listed as roles where human contact, leadership, or specialist judgement cannot be replaced by software.
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How Could AI Change The Economy?
McKinsey Global Institute has estimated that AI could add around $13 trillion to global economic activity by 2030. That would take up the world’s GDP by 16% compared with today, averaging 1.2% extra growth each year.
This growth is expected to come from automation of labour as well as from innovation in new products and services. McKinsey predicts that 70% of companies will have adopted at least one form of AI technology by 2030, though fewer than half will have taken on all five main categories.
Forbes has said AI may be one of the most disruptive technologies across economies. The publication mentioned that its spread is likely to be felt in almost every sector, from retail to healthcare.
Elliott Mueller, CEO of Elevate commented, “AI’s rapid advancement is reshaping the workforce, particularly in roles involving repetitive tasks. While automation offers efficiency, it also presents challenges for millions facing job displacement. It’s crucial for businesses and policymakers to prioritise reskilling and create pathways that help workers transition into roles where human skills remain essential.”
Elevate, McKinsey and Goldman Sachs all agree on one thing and that is… AI will change the world of work, but how people adapt will decide whether it helps or harms them.
