Experts predict that with the development of artificial intelligence, 90% of call center operators will be laid off. Who else is at risk, read in the Kazinform news agency.
"Like a tsunami"
The introduction of technology into agriculture canceled the work of millions of workers on farms, and the industrial revolution moved people to factories. Then automation took them out of factories, which led to the growth of the service sector. But despite these waves of “destruction“, the total number of employed people continues to grow.
The rapid development of technology is fundamentally changing the situation on the labor market. Thus, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to radically change the global economy, threatening to replace humans in some jobs and complement them in others. The IMF reports that almost 40% of global jobs are affected by AI. Moreover, the most developed economies face greater risks, but are also better prepared to reap the benefits than developing countries. This could widen the digital divide and income disparities between countries.
In developed economies, about 60% of jobs are affected by AI due to the high share of jobs focused on cognitive tasks, in developing economies - 40%, and in low-income countries - 26%.
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said that AI is hitting the global labor market “like a tsunami“. “We have very little time to prepare people and businesses for this. There could be huge productivity gains if we manage AI well, but it could also lead to more misinformation and, of course, more inequality in our society“, she explains.
The World Economic Forum paper “Why there will be plenty of jobs in the future – even with AI“ recalls that over the past 200 years, job loss predictions have generally been wrong. However, it cannot be denied that hundreds of millions of jobs have been destroyed.
6 million Britons at risk
The November 2024 report “The Impact of AI on the Labour Market“ from the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change looks at three ways in which AI could impact the labour market: demand, supply and changing working conditions.
Full and effective adoption of AI by UK companies could reduce almost a quarter of the time spent by the private sector, equivalent to the annual workload of 6 million workers. However, the potential for AI to save time and improve productivity varies significantly at the individual worker level. Occupations involving complex manual labour, such as construction, will be less susceptible to the impact of AI. Conversely - workers performing routine cognitive tasks (especially in administrative positions) or working in data-intensive industries (such as banking and finance) will be more vulnerable.
Job losses are forecast, but there may be a demand for new workers due to faster economic growth and the emergence of new products and services. Artificial intelligence has the potential to significantly transform the daily work experience by reducing routine, improving access to work, and increasing safety. However, there are concerns that increased surveillance could cause stress for an individual.
Who is at risk in the US
In the country, 10% of occupations with total employment in the economy are at the greatest risk, and there are already signs of a decline in demand for them. This is stated in the CEA report “The Potential Impact of AI on the Labor Market“ (July 2024).
Among the professions most affected by AI are: cartographers, court clerks, tax consultants (court clerks), electrical engineers, compliance officers
Kazakhstan Labor Market
Clerical and other administrative professions are most at risk. According to estimates by JSC “Center for Human Resources Development“ up to 45% of tasks can be automated through generative AI among administrative employees, as opposed to 2% among blue-collar professions.
According to the “Concept for AI Development for 2024-2029“ in wholesale and retail trade, AI can replace call center and chatbot functions, which will lead to a 90% reduction in call center employees.
In addition, the use of equipment with artificial intelligence-based software to automate the mechanical operations of picking and packing orders will significantly improve the efficiency and accuracy of these processes, while reducing labor costs by up to 30%.
Professions of a routine nature will significantly decrease or disappear. As an example, we can take the work of clerks in banks and other companies, as well as activities related to business processes.
The demanded functions in the field of marketing, human resources, PR and legal spheres can be transferred to AI. As for creative professions, they themselves will remain, but their routine part will disappear.
How to prepare for changes?
According to the IMF, priorities in this matter depend on the level of development of the country. Developed and more advanced emerging economies should invest in innovation and integration of AI and properly regulate the industry. For less prepared developing countries, the development of infrastructure and the building of digital skills among workers are top priorities. At the same time, it is important for all economies to introduce social support measures and programs for retraining workers in risk areas.