As automation and artificial intelligence (AI) continue to evolve, public and private employers must prepare for workforce shifts that could reshape communities and economies.
A new report from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) warns that more than 19 million US jobs, or roughly one in eight, face a high or very high risk of near-term displacement due to automation.
SHRM analyzed over 800 occupations from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and found that while 39 percent of jobs face minimal automation risk, about half are moderately vulnerable. Around 12.6 percent of current US roles are considered highly susceptible to automation, particularly in blue-collar, administrative, and service support positions.
From the article:
The most exposed groups are those with skill sets that emphasize highly routinized tasks that can increasingly be done using advanced robotics and/or software, according to the report. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the groups we estimate to have the lowest exposure to near-term automation displacement risk generally emphasize creative and/or critical thinking, interpersonal skills, and tasks that require a degree of improvisation and ingenuity.
Workforce development programs, economic planning, and education partnerships will all play key roles in helping residents adapt. Generative AI may bring new efficiencies, but SHRM cautions that it could also come at a “high human cost” if implementation outpaces preparation. Investing in learning and development, especially at the local level, will help ensure communities are ready for the future of work.
