According to Kweilin Ellingrud, a senior partner at McKinsey, artificial intelligence (AI) is projected to lead to approximately 12 million occupational transitions by the year 2030. This disruption in the job market is expected to parallel the pace of occupational transitions seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While some sectors, such as healthcare and STEM, are anticipated to experience growth as a result of AI, about 85% of the jobs that AI is likely to impact fall within four specific categories - administrative assistance, customer service and sales, food service, and production and manufacturing.
These roles often involve repetitive tasks, data collection, and basic data processing, all of which can potentially be automated. A report co-authored by Ellingrud highlights that an estimated 11.8 million workers in roles with diminishing demand will need to transition into new lines of work by 2030.
Furthermore, the report suggests that approximately 30% of tasks across various industries will need to adapt to the changes brought about by the widespread adoption of generative AI and traditional automation methods. This shift will require workers to adjust to the evolving technological landscape in order to remain competitive in the job market.
In conclusion, the impact of AI on the workforce is expected to be significant, with millions of workers needing to transition to new roles within the next decade. While this disruption will primarily affect jobs in specific sectors, the broader workforce can anticipate changes in their day-to-day tasks as AI continues to reshape the workplace.