New research on the workplace environment from Pearson, the world’s leading learning company, reveals that white-collar jobs are under greater threat from generative AI than blue-collar jobs, as the technology gains more ground in the global economy.
The latest edition of Pearson’s Skills Outlook series examines ‘Jobs Resistant to Generative AI’ – analyzing the impact of generative AI on over 5,000 jobs across five countries – Australia, Brazil, India, the USA, and the UK.
Specifically analyzing the time spent on individual tasks during the workweek, the research shows that about 30% of some white-collar jobs could be performed by generative AI. The results also showed that less than 1% of the time spent on tasks in many blue-collar jobs could be performed by generative AI.
Many of the most affected white-collar positions involve repetitive tasks – such as scheduling appointments or answering and directing calls – that could be easily replicated by generative AI. The white-collar jobs most resistant to generative AI tend to be those that involve tasks related to mathematics, such as engineers. Generative AI is currently notoriously inaccurate in mathematical calculations, making these jobs a bit more resistant to AI for now.
On the other hand, many blue-collar jobs – such as landscapers, mechanics, or construction workers – include manual labor or customer service elements that cannot be easily replicated by generative AI.
In the USA, the most impacted jobs are (by % of time spent on tasks that can be automated or enhanced by generative AI):
White-Collar Jobs
- Medical Secretaries (-40%)
- Statement Clerks (-38%)
- Collection, Cost, and Fee Clerks (-38%)
- Interviewers and Loan Officers (-38%)
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks (-38%)
Blue-Collar Jobs
- Agricultural Product Buyers (-27%)
- Recreation and Entertainment Attendants (-26%)
- Hosts of Restaurants, Bars, and Cafés (-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%)
- Architecture and Engineering Managers (-13%)
Blue-Collar Jobs
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists (0%)
- Dishwashers (0%)
- Road Maintenance Workers (0%)
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers (0%)
- Welders and Brazers (0%)