A recent study conducted by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has unveiled the occupations most vulnerable to being replaced by artificial intelligence (AI) within the next year. According to the research, approximately one in six employers anticipate a reduction in their workforce due to AI, with the majority identifying clerical, junior managerial, professional, and administrative roles as the most likely to be affected.
The survey, which involved over 2,000 employers, indicated that 26% of large private sector firms foresee a decrease in their workforce, compared to 17% in the private sector and 20% in the public sector. Among those expecting job cuts, 26% anticipate losing more than 10% of their workforce, while 22% of employers plan to make staff redundant in the last quarter of 2025. However, 61% of employers are planning to hire for new positions during the same period.
James Cockett, a senior labor market economist at CIPD, emphasized the transformative impact of AI on various job roles. He stressed the importance of national efforts to retrain and upskill individuals at all career levels to adapt to an AI-driven economy. Cockett also called for enhanced workforce planning and investment in skills to enable workers to effectively utilize AI in their roles or transition to new occupations as AI integration expands.
The current employment landscape in the UK reflects a 5% unemployment rate in the three months leading up to September, a slight increase from the previous period. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported this to be the highest unemployment level since August 2016, excluding the atypical figures seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For further insights, the complete CIPD report can be accessed through the provided link.