Skilled jobs to be most impacted by AI ‘revolution,’ reveals OECD report

“Occupations in finance, medicine and legal activities which often require many years of education, and whose core functions rely on accumulated experience to reach decisions, may suddenly find themselves at risk of automation from AI,” the body further noted.

Major economies face major changes

AI developments have resulted in cases where output from AI tools is indistinguishable from that of humans putting major economies at risk of experiencing major changes.

“These rapid developments, combined with the falling costs of producing and adopting these new technologies, suggest that OECD economies may be on the cusp of an AI revolution which could fundamentally change the workplace,” the organization said in its 2023 employment outlook, adding that “urgent action is required to make sure AI is used responsibly and in a trustworthy way in the workplace.”

To avoid some of the pitfalls associated with the AI revolution, the body suggested workers be trained in AI adoption and use.

“Increasingly rapid AI development and adoption means that new skills will be needed, while others will change or become obsolete. Training is needed for both low-skilled and older workers, but also for higher-skilled workers. Governments should encourage employers to provide more training, integrate AI skills into education, and support diversity in the AI workforce,” said the report.

It’s not all bad news. AI has the potential to eliminate boring or dangerous tasks and create better, more interesting ones instead. “The findings show that AI use at work can lead to positive outcomes for workers around job satisfaction, health, and wages,” noted the report.

However, firms using the technology noted that their main goals were to improve worker performance and reduce staff costs. This means well-paid jobs requiring high-end education could be the most affected.

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