A recent study conducted by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has identified the occupations most vulnerable to automation by artificial intelligence (AI) in the upcoming year. According to the research, approximately 17% of employers anticipate a reduction in their workforce due to AI, with a significant focus on roles involving clerical, junior managerial, professional, or administrative responsibilities.
The survey of over 2,000 employers revealed that 26% of large private sector companies expect a decrease in their workforce, compared to 17% in the private sector and 20% in the public sector. Among those foreseeing job cuts, 26% expect a reduction of more than 10% in their workforce. While 22% of employers plan to make staff redundant by December 2025, 61% intend to recruit for new positions.
James Cockett, a senior labor market economist at CIPD, emphasized the transformative impact of AI on work dynamics, highlighting the need for nationwide efforts to retrain and upskill individuals across different age groups and career stages. He stressed the importance of developing skills through initiatives like the Growth and Skills Levy to prepare workers for an AI-driven economy.
As the UK’s unemployment rate rose to 5% in the three months leading to September, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported the highest level since August 2016, excluding skewed figures during the pandemic. Cockett also expressed concerns about the potential challenges job seekers may face due to increased employment costs and regulations proposed in the Employment Rights Bill.
For more detailed insights, the full CIPD report can be accessed via the provided link.