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Interestingly, the white collar roles that are most impacted in this market are likely to be the ones involving tasks related to mathematics, such as engineers.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has undeniably transformed the modern working world.
As organisations turn to innovative AI solutions to maximise efficiency & productivity, this has sparked countless concerned debates — what does this mean for our jobs?
New research from Pearson revealed that generative AI will likely have a greater impact on white collar roles than blue collar roles over the next 10 years. Taking into account the nature of its creative, manual and collaborative tasks, blue collar roles were generally at less risk from the changes the rise of this technology will bring.
On the other hand, many white collar roles contain repetitive tasks - such as scheduling appointments or answering and directing calls - that can be easily replicated by generative AI. Just in the US itself, around 35% or more of the time spent on tasks involved in the working week of some white collar roles could be done by generative AI.
For a better understanding, the study took a look at the varying impact of AI on different roles.
Interestingly, the white collar roles that are most impacted in this market were likely to be the ones involving tasks related to mathematics, such as engineers.
Most impacted 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%)
Least impacted white collar jobs
- Chief executives (10%)
- Civil engineers (10%)
- Electrical engineers (11%)
- Sales managers (13%)
- Architectural and engineering managers (13%)
Conversely, many blue collar roles, such as mechanics, or construction workers, involve manual labor or customer service elements that can’t easily be replicated by generative AI. In fact, the study found that less than 1% of the time spent on tasks involved in a blue collar worker’s work week could be done by generative AI.
Most impacted 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%)
Least impacted 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%)
As the study shows, employees and employers in white collar sectors need to act faster to adapt than those in blue collar roles – but what exactly can they do?
One such way would be to look at how to upskill and reskill, as well as how jobs can evolve. White collar workers should be thinking about upskilling and evolution - enhancing soft skills such as creativity, communication and leadership, that can’t be easily replicated by generative AI.
Complementing these efforts, employees should also learn how to use generative AI to become more efficient at repetitive tasks. This will improve productivity, as they will spend more time on high value activities.
As a whole, employers and employees should be looking at how they can use the best of AI and the best of human skills together.
Lead image / Pearson
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