In its latest employment outlook report, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) highlights that high-skill jobs are likely to be the most affected by artificial intelligence (AI), although the full extent of this impact remains uncertain. The report delves into global employment data and trends to shed light on the potential consequences of AI on various professions.
According to the OECD, occupations demanding extensive training or tertiary education, labeled as “high-skill, white-collar jobs,” face the highest exposure to AI. This group includes business professionals, managers, chief executives, and science and engineering professionals. Conversely, occupations such as food preparation assistants, agriculture, forestry and fishery laborers, cleaners, and helpers are considered the least susceptible to AI’s influence.
The report acknowledges the rapid progress made in AI, particularly in areas requiring non-routine cognitive tasks like information ordering, memorization, and perceptual speed. These qualities are inherent to highly skilled professions, making them more vulnerable to displacement by AI technologies.
While the net impact of AI on employment is still ambiguous, the report suggests that AI can both displace jobs and stimulate labor demand by enhancing productivity. It emphasizes that AI has the potential to create new tasks, leading to the emergence of new job opportunities where human labor holds a competitive advantage.
The OECD observes that negative employment effects directly attributable to AI advancements are challenging to identify. In fact, the data indicates that high-skill workers have experienced employment gains over the past decade compared to their low-skilled counterparts. However, it should be noted that these findings were established before the advent of large language models like ChatGPT. Generative AI models like ChatGPT could further expand the range of automatable tasks and job roles.
The employment outlook report also highlights the growing interest in AI-related jobs, as evidenced by a surge in job seekers searching for “AI jobs” on Google. This trend outpaced searches for “crypto jobs” during the peak bull run of 2021. It indicates that individuals are increasingly recognizing the potential of AI in various sectors and are actively seeking opportunities in this field.
Overall, as AI continues to advance, its impact on high-skill jobs becomes more significant. The OECD’s report serves as a valuable resource for understanding the implications of AI for different professions and provides insights into the evolving labor market dynamics in an AI-driven world.