AI to fill junior roles in 40% of businesses, survey says

Entry-level jobs will be the first to be replaced by AI, according to new survey data.

Editor’s note: This story first appeared on HR Leader’s sister brand, Cyber Daily.

According to the survey from the British Standards Institution (BSI), which sought and received responses from 850 business leaders across eight countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia, 43 per cent of business leaders expect that their junior roles will be replaced by AI.

Already, the business leaders surveyed say that 39 per cent of junior roles, such as admin and research roles, have had AI replace them in some way, thanks to reduced junior hiring or the termination of those roles altogether.

Last month, the BSI also found that 88 per cent of business leaders in Australia expect AI to change office jobs, with 76 per cent expecting those jobs to be replaced outright, following a growth in optimism and embracement of AI tools in the business world.

The second report, where 932 business leaders across nine countries were surveyed, found that 78 per cent of Australian respondents said that “AI tools should be embraced even if some jobs change or are lost as a result”.

Additionally, 70 per cent of Australian respondents said that innovation in business is more important than protecting jobs.

“The world of work is changing, shaped by demographic shifts bringing growing age diversity alongside new attitudes and expectations of when, how and where work is done,” said BIS global head of human and social sustainability Kate Field.

“AI-powered technologies have the power to transform the way we work across all sectors and markets, and we can expect them to shape how companies recruit staff, manage performance, train employees and more.

“AI, used effectively, has the potential to enhance diversity, transform line management and facilitate a more flexible way of working. At the same time, it is vital that we consider how to retain human creativity, ingenuity, critical thinking, and collaboration.

“We can use AI to enhance efficiency and productivity, and if we pair it with human insight, empathy, and compassion, we can strengthen organisational culture and foster greater innovation.”

Earlier this month, US Senator Bernie Sanders raised concerns that 100 million entry-level and low-wage jobs could be eliminated and replaced by AI within the next 10 years.

“The impact of AI and automation on workers will be determined by a set of choices. Right now, those choices are largely being made by corporate executives focused on short-term profits in boardrooms across Wall Street and Silicon Valley. The Trump administration is poised to only entrench the power of these executives. That must end. Congress and the American people must stand up and fight back to make sure workers benefit from AI and automation,” he said.