Your job’s likely OK in AI: 71% report little or no displacement
Workable's AI in Hiring & Work survey finds that a majority of employees reported little or no job displacement in their company as a result of AI. This is an excerpt from our AI in Hiring and Work survey report, based on responses from 950 hiring managers in the US and UK. Visit here to download the report in full.
AI, of course, has disrupted the way we work, but is it disrupting our jobs as well? Not necessarily, according to data from Workable’s AI in Hiring & Work survey. In short: worries are one thing – actual occurrence is another.
In the survey, we asked respondents whether they saw actual job displacements in their company as a result of AI, and the responses are pretty spread out.
On the one hand, more than one in five (22.7%) say they saw many job changes or layoffs in their work, with another 34.5% saying there was a bit of an impact.
But, on the other hand, more than one in three (36.5%) say there weren’t any known job displacements whatsoever.
This means 71% have seen minimal or no displacement thanks to AI. What this says to us is that the worries about job loss related to AI isn’t necessarily grounded in truth – rather, it’s just that jobs are changing. For example, Trevor Bogan at the Top Employers Institute told us about a talent shift as a result of AI, and that adapting and learning how to use the new technology is absolutely the way to go.
The industry lens
It makes sense that the fears of job loss would be accentuated when there’s actual job loss.
Construction led the way in terms of job worries. Three in four (74.6%) say there were a few or many job displacements in their company.
Meanwhile, retail (44.8% vs. 36.5% overall) and Education (42.9%) are more likely to say they saw no actual impact to jobs as a result of AI.
Frequently asked questions
- How many companies have actually seen job displacements due to AI?
- Despite the prevalent fear of job losses, only 22.7% of companies reported many job displacements, while a larger fraction experienced minor impacts or none at all, highlighting a trend towards job evolution rather than elimination.
- Are some industries more affected by AI-induced job worries than others?
- Industries vary in their experience, with construction leading in job displacement concerns. Interestingly, sectors like retail and education report lower impacts, suggesting that AI's effect is not uniformly felt across the board.
- What does the future hold for jobs in the AI era?
- The future is leaning towards adaptation and skill evolution. Experts like Trevor Bogan advocate for learning and integrating new AI technologies, indicating a shift in job roles rather than a reduction in employment opportunities.
- What percentage of companies have not seen any job displacements due to AI?
- Over one-third of companies (36.5%) reported no known job displacements as a result of AI, suggesting that the fear of job loss may be overstated compared to actual occurrences.
- How does the perception of AI and job loss vary by industry?
- Perceptions of AI's impact on jobs differ significantly across industries. While construction workers report higher displacement rates, sectors like retail and education are less likely to witness job changes, indicating industry-specific responses to AI advancements.
