AI Replacing Jobs Statistics

 

• AI could replace 300 million full-time jobs.
• 80% of the US workforce will have at least 10% of their tasks affected by AI.
• 77% of businesses are already using or exploring AI.
• 75% of Chinese citizens would replace politicians with AI.
• CEOs of AI firms like OpenAI have signed an open letter warning about the risk of extinction from AI.

AI already in the workplace statistics

These tools replacing human jobs statistics look at how AI is already being used in the workplace.

1. 77% of businesses are already using or exploring AI.

(Source: IBM)

Fears of AI replacing jobs are warranted when 35% of businesses are already using it and 42% are exploring how to use it in the near future. While this doesn’t mean workers are being sacked, this becomes more likely as AI technology advances and is less reliant on human collaboration.

2. Large businesses are twice as likely to use AI than small businesses.

(Source: IBM)

Larger organizations spend more on research and development and have the capital to adopt new technology like AI. However, 41% of small businesses are developing an AI strategy for the future.

3. IT professionals use AI the most in the workplace.

(Source: IBM)

It should come as no surprise that IT professionals are the largest AI user group in the workplace (54%). They are followed by 35% of Data Engineers, 29% of Developers and Data Scientists, 26% of Security Professionals, and 25% of Customer Service staff.

4. There is a 37% rate of adoption of Generative AI in Marketing and Advertising.

(Source: Statista – AI Adoption)

When looking at specific industries, marketing & advertising show the highest rate of adoption of Generative AI (37%). This is followed by Technology (35%), Consulting (30%), Teaching (19%), Accounting (16%), and Healthcare (15%).

5. 81% of office workers think AI improves their job performance.

(Source: SnapLogic)

Of 400 surveyed office workers using AI, the majority felt it was improving their overall performance at work. This includes 61% who say it makes them more efficient and productive, while 49% felt it improved their decision-making.

Meanwhile, 51% say they believe AI enables them to achieve a better work/life balance.

AI replacing jobs statistics: Now and the future

These stats and facts reveal the current landscape of job losses and some shocking predictions for the years ahead.

6. 14% of workers claim to have already lost a job to ‘robots’.

(Source: Socius)

Research at Brigham Young University in Utah, suggests fears outweigh current reality, but 14% of workers have already had a role replaced by automation. Those who had, suspected the number to be as high as 47%, while those that hadn’t predicted 29%. However, it’s potential job losses in the future that’s drumming up the most fear.

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence is already changing the jobs market. We already witness the different ways in which AI creates art or performs tasks for different professional categories, like architects. But now, we witness an entire man-machine shift. Tasks that only humans could do a few years ago can now be partially or fully automated by simple web tools that anyone can access.

This compilation of data puts all the AI replacing jobs chatter into worrying perspective.

AI Replacing Jobs Statistics: Most Shocking Findings

While there are a few positive predictions among the doom and gloom, the following stats suggest there will be a great and painful upheaval in the jobs market:

• AI could replace 300 million full-time jobs.
• 80% of the US workforce will have at least 10% of their tasks affected by AI.
• 77% of businesses are already using or exploring AI.
• 75% of Chinese citizens would replace politicians with AI.
• CEOs of AI firms like OpenAI have signed an open letter warning about the risk of extinction from AI.

AI already in the workplace statistics

These tools replacing human jobs statistics look at how AI is already being used in the workplace.

1. 77% of businesses are already using or exploring AI.

(Source: IBM)

Fears of AI replacing jobs are warranted when 35% of businesses are already using it and 42% are exploring how to use it in the near future. While this doesn’t mean workers are being sacked, this becomes more likely as AI technology advances and is less reliant on human collaboration.

2. Large businesses are twice as likely to use AI than small businesses.

(Source: IBM)

Larger organizations spend more on research and development and have the capital to adopt new technology like AI. However, 41% of small businesses are developing an AI strategy for the future.

3. IT professionals use AI the most in the workplace.

(Source: IBM)

It should come as no surprise that IT professionals are the largest AI user group in the workplace (54%). They are followed by 35% of Data Engineers, 29% of Developers and Data Scientists, 26% of Security Professionals, and 25% of Customer Service staff.

4. There is a 37% rate of adoption of Generative AI in Marketing and Advertising.

(Source: Statista – AI Adoption)

When looking at specific industries, marketing & advertising show the highest rate of adoption of Generative AI (37%). This is followed by Technology (35%), Consulting (30%), Teaching (19%), Accounting (16%), and Healthcare (15%).

5. 81% of office workers think AI improves their job performance.

(Source: SnapLogic)

Of 400 surveyed office workers using AI, the majority felt it was improving their overall performance at work. This includes 61% who say it makes them more efficient and productive, while 49% felt it improved their decision-making.

Meanwhile, 51% say they believe AI enables them to achieve a better work/life balance.

AI replacing jobs statistics: Now and the future

These stats and facts reveal the current landscape of job losses and some shocking predictions for the years ahead.

6. 14% of workers claim to have already lost a job to ‘robots’.

(Source: Socius)

Research at Brigham Young University in Utah, suggests fears outweigh current reality, but 14% of workers have already had a role replaced by automation. Those who had, suspected the number to be as high as 47%, while those that hadn’t predicted 29%. However, it’s potential job losses in the future that’s drumming up the most fear.

7. In May 2023, 3,900 US job losses were linked directly to AI.

(Source: Challenger Report)

This made up 5% of all job losses in May and was the seventh-highest contributor. In tech, there have been 136,831 job losses this year, the biggest round of layoffs since 2001.

8. British Telecom aims to replace 10,000 staff with AI within 7 years.

(Source: Daily Mail)

As part of a broader program of layoffs, telecom giant BT has announced plans to cut 10,000 staff over the next 7 years with help from AI and other automation strategies. Part of this is due to expanding AI-based customer service technology like help chat bots.

9. Early AI and automation have already driven down wages by up to 70% since 1980.

(Sources: Business Insider, Forbes)

It’s argued that before AI replaces jobs it levels the playing field. Creatives in writing, graphic design, and music, now face less talented competitors who can use AI to improve the quality of their work. In turn, this drives down wages.

This experiment has already been played out since 1980. Between 50% and 70% of decreased wages have been among blue-collar workers who were replaced or degraded by automation and primitive AI.