AI Revolution: 27% of Jobs at High Risk in OECD Countries

A study finds that 27% of jobs in OECD countries are at high risk due to the AI revolution.

According to the OECD, more than a quarter of OECD employment relies on skills that may be easily automated in the coming artificial intelligence revolution, and people are concerned about losing their jobs to AI.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is a 38-member organization comprised primarily of affluent nations but also of some growing economies such as Mexico and Estonia.

According to the OECD, there is no indication that AI has substantially influenced jobs so far, although this might be because the revolution is still in its early phases.

Jobs with the highest risk of automation account for 27% of the labor force on average in OECD nations, with Eastern European countries being the most vulnerable, according to the Paris-based organization's 2023 Employment Outlook.

Jobs with the highest risk require more than 25 100 skills and competencies that AI specialists believe can be readily automated.

Meanwhile, three out of every five workers fear losing their jobs to AI in the next ten years, according to a poll conducted by the OECD last year. The poll included 5,300 workers from 2,000 organizations in seven OECD nations, covering manufacturing and finance.

The poll was conducted before the dramatic rise of generative AI, such as ChatGPT.

Despite concerns about the impact of AI, two-thirds of workers who have used it claimed that it has made their employment less risky or tiresome.

"How AI ultimately impacts workers in the workplace, and whether the benefits outweigh the risks, will depend on the policy actions we take," OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann said at a press conference.

"Governments must assist workers in preparing for the changes and capitalizing on the opportunities AI will bring," he added.