Will AI reduce employment opportunities?
A. Yes — Machines will replace some human jobs
B. No — AI will create new types of jobs
C. Jobs will not disappear, but skills will have to change
The International Labour Organization (ILO) published a study in May 2025. It said that about one in four jobs (25%) worldwide are exposed to Generative AI.
A. Yes — Machines will replace some human jobs
- AI can replace many routine clerical jobs. These jobs include entering data, sorting information, making summaries, and processing documents. AI can do such work quickly and with very few errors. For example, a company that earlier needed 10 employees for routine office work may now do the same work with fewer employees using AI.
- AI can reduce jobs in customer service. An AI chatbot can work 24×7 and talk to thousands of customers simultaneously. For example, banks, airlines, telecom companies, and e-commerce businesses use chatbots to answer questions about accounts, orders, bookings, and simple problems. As a result, companies may need fewer employees for basic customer service.
- AI can also affect skilled jobs. The IMF estimates that almost 40% of jobs worldwide are exposed to AI. In advanced economies, the figure is around 60%. Earlier, machines mainly replaced physical work. AI can now also perform some mental and skilled work.
- Generative AI can do many tasks that were earlier done only by professionals. It can write text, analyse information, create computer code and process documents. For example, AI can prepare the first draft of a legal document, write an advertisement, summarise a financial report or generate basic computer code. It may not completely replace lawyers, accountants or programmers. However, companies may be able to do the same amount of work with smaller teams.
- AI can help fewer employees produce the same amount of work. For example, suppose 10 employees prepare 100 reports every week. With AI, five employees may be able to prepare the same 100 reports. This does not mean that millions of workers will lose their jobs immediately. Job reduction may happen slowly. Companies may hire fewer people, keep smaller teams, and not replace employees who retire or leave.
B. No — AI will create new types of jobs
- New technology removes some jobs, but it also creates new industries and jobs. For example, 25 years ago, jobs such as app developer, social-media manager, cloud engineer, cybersecurity analyst, and digital-marketing specialist either did not exist or were very limited. Similarly, AI is creating jobs for AI/ML specialists, data specialists, and AI product managers. The World Economic Forum says that AI and machine-learning specialists and big-data specialists will be among the fastest-growing jobs up to 2030. Therefore, jobs may not simply disappear; the type of jobs will change.
- AI is creating a completely new employment system around it. An AI company does not employ only AI scientists. It also needs software engineers, cybersecurity experts, data-centre technicians, product managers, salespeople, trainers and compliance specialists. Therefore, AI is not only replacing some workers. It is also creating an industry that employs many people.
- AI can help businesses grow and create more jobs. AI can make products and services cheaper and better. This can increase demand and help companies expand. For example, a small company can use AI to reduce the cost of making advertisements, translating content, and studying customers. It can use the money saved to enter new markets. As the company grows, it may employ more people in sales, distribution and customer service. Therefore, higher productivity can also create employment.
- The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025 estimates that changes in the labour market could create about 170 million jobs and displace about 92 million jobs by 2030. This could result in a net increase of about 78 million jobs. Technology is not the only reason for changes in employment. Ageing populations, green energy, economic growth and changing consumer needs will also create jobs. For example, jobs may grow in technology, healthcare, education, construction, renewable energy and logistics. Therefore, some jobs may disappear, but total employment does not necessarily have to fall.
C. Jobs will not disappear, but skills will have to change
- The ILO's 2025 study examined nearly 30,000 work-related tasks. It found that most jobs still have many tasks that need humans. Therefore, AI is more likely to change jobs rather than completely remove them. For example, a doctor may use AI to analyse an X-ray. But the doctor still examines the patient, studies the medical history, makes the final medical decision, and explains the treatment. So, AI may replace some tasks, but not necessarily the whole job.
- AI can work as a tool rather than a competitor. It can help professionals complete routine and time-consuming work faster, while humans focus on judgement and important decisions. For example, before the advent of AI, a lawyer might have spent several hours searching previous court judgments and reading long legal documents. AI can now search and summarise this information within minutes. However, AI cannot independently understand every fact and circumstance of the case or decide the best legal strategy. The lawyer must check whether the AI's information is correct, understand the client's situation, interpret the law, argue the case in court, and take responsibility for the advice given. Therefore, AI may reduce the time spent on routine research, but it does not remove the need for the lawyer. AI makes a lawyer more productive rather than simply replacing the lawyer.
- The World Economic Forum's 2025 employer survey estimates that nearly 40% of skills needed for jobs could change by 2030. AI, big data, and cybersecurity are among the fast-growing technical skills. Therefore, a person who starts working at the age of 22 cannot expect their skills to remain sufficient until retirement. For example, an accountant may need to learn AI-based financial analysis. A mechanic may need to learn EV diagnostic skills. Workers will also have to keep learning and updating their skills.
- Human qualities will remain important even as AI becomes more powerful. The World Economic Forum says employers continue to value qualities such as creative thinking, resilience, flexibility and agility. For example, a military officer may use AI for intelligence analysis, surveillance and logistics planning. But AI cannot take responsibility for leading troops, taking difficult decisions under pressure, motivating soldiers or making moral judgements. Therefore, the future will require a combination of technology skills and human qualities such as leadership, judgement and responsibility.