Generative AI will affect two thirds of jobs, but most people shouldn’t lose them

Around two thirds (66 percent) of jobs are considered “highly” or “moderately” exposed to Generative AI, according to the AI at Work Report from job site Indeed. The report claims finds that all US jobs listed on the firm’s website – from truck driver to software engineer – have skills that can be carried out or augmented by Generative AI. However, only 1 in 5 (19.8 percent) of jobs are considered “highly” exposed to the technology, showing that while it can learn to do tasks within a specific job, ‘GenAI’ is unlikely to fully replace many jobs.

Indeed’s AI at Work Report analysed more than 55 million job postings on its website  and 2,600 job skills to identify the exposure level (low/moderate/high) GenAI will have on jobs and the skills required to perform them. If GenAI was considered “good” or “excellent” at 80 percent or more of the skills mentioned in Indeed job postings, that job is considered highly exposed. If it was “good” or “excellent” at between 50 percent and less than 80 percent of the skills, the job faces moderate exposure. If GenAI was proficient at less than 50 percent of the skills, the job is considered low exposure.

Software development jobs face the highest potential exposure, with GenAI “good” or “excellent” at 95 percent of the skills mentioned in Indeed job postings. Driving jobs, like truck and taxi drivers, face the lowest potential exposure, with GenAI proficient at less than a third (29 percent) of the skills mentioned. Retail jobs fell in the middle with GenAI being effective at 57.6 percent of the skills.

Key findings:

• 19.8 percent of jobs on Indeed are highly exposed, meaning GenAI is considered good or excellent at 80 percent or more of all skills mentioned in Indeed job postings.
• 45.7 percent of jobs on Indeed are moderately exposed, meaning that GenAI can do between 50 percent and less than 80 percent
• 34.6 percent of jobs on Indeed are low/minimally exposed, which means GenAI can do less than 50 percent of the skills
• Software development jobs have the highest potential exposure to GenAI augmentation
  • GenAI is “good” or “excellent” at 95 percent of the skills in software development postings, which includes technology and business operations skills.
• Driving jobs (like truck and taxi drivers) have the least potential impact by GenAI
  • GenAI is “good” or “excellent” at only 29 percent of skills in driving jobs. It’s proficient at language and communication skills, but GenAI is “poor” at vehicle operation skills.
• While GenAI is relatively good at technical skills and jobs, it is significantly less proficient at skills and jobs that require intuition, reasoning, and/or in-person, manual work.
• Jobs with the least potential exposure to GenAI, including driving, cleaning & sanitation, and beauty & wellness jobs, are also those with the lowest ability to be done remotely. The higher the likelihood that a job can be done remotely, the greater its potential exposure is to GenAI-driven change.