More than a quarter of jobs within the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries rely on skills that could be easily automated in the upcoming artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, according to a report released by the OECD on Tuesday.
Workers express concerns about potential job losses due to AI advancements.
The OECD is an international organization consisting of 38 member countries, primarily wealthy nations but also including emerging economies like Mexico and Estonia.
While there is currently limited evidence of AI significantly impacting jobs, the OECD suggests this could be attributed to the early stages of the AI revolution.
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The 2023 Employment Outlook report from the Paris-based organization reveals that jobs with the highest risk of automation constitute an average of 27% of the labor force in OECD countries, with eastern European nations being particularly vulnerable.
The report defines jobs at the highest risk as those relying on more than 25 out of 100 skills and abilities that AI experts consider easily automatable.
In addition, a survey conducted by the OECD last year found that three out of five workers fear losing their jobs to AI within the next decade.
The survey encompassed 5,300 workers in 2,000 firms across manufacturing and finance sectors in seven OECD countries. Notably, the survey was conducted prior to the emergence of generative AI tools like ChatGPT.
Despite concerns surrounding the rise of AI, two-thirds of workers already utilizing AI in their jobs reported that automation had made their work less hazardous or monotonous.
OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann emphasized the importance of policy actions in determining the impact of AI on workers and whether the benefits outweigh the risks.
During a news conference, Cormann stated, “Governments must help workers to prepare for the changes and benefit from the opportunities AI will bring about.”
The OECD recommended that measures such as minimum wages and collective bargaining could alleviate potential wage pressures resulting from AI automation.
Additionally, governments and regulators must ensure that workers’ rights are not compromised in the process. Proactive steps are necessary to navigate the impact of AI and ensure a balanced and beneficial outcome for workers in the changing employment landscape.
