A recent study by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has identified the job roles most vulnerable to displacement by artificial intelligence (AI) within the next year. According to the research, 17% of employers anticipate AI will decrease their workforce, with the majority (62%) foreseeing the impact on clerical, junior managerial, professional, or administrative positions.
The survey, which involved more than 2,000 employers, indicated that 26% of large private sector firms are expecting a reduction in their workforce, compared to 17% in the private sector and 20% in the public sector. Among those anticipating job cuts, 26% predict a loss of over 10% of their workforce, while 22% of employers plan to make redundancies in the next three months leading up to December 2025.
James Cockett, a senior labor market economist at CIPD, emphasized the transformative potential of AI in enhancing productivity and performance but highlighted the need for retraining and upskilling across all career levels. He stressed the importance of national initiatives to equip workers with the necessary skills for an AI-driven economy and urged government and employers to prioritize long-term workforce planning and skill development.
Meanwhile, the UK’s unemployment rate rose to 5% in the three months ending in September, up from 4.8% in the previous quarter, as reported by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This marks the highest level since August 2016, excluding the pandemic-related fluctuations.
For more information, the full CIPD report can be accessed through the provided link.