A recent study conducted by the Pew Research Center has highlighted that Asian Americans are one of the groups most at risk of job displacement due to advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) within the United States.
Study Details: This study, which was published on Wednesday, delved into the risk levels of American workers in relation to AI technologies. It investigated how likely they are to either lose their jobs or have their work assisted by AI systems.
The jobs found to have the highest risk of AI displacement included roles such as technical writers, budget analysts, web developers, and data key operators. Conversely, professions like firefighters, barbers, and janitors were identified as having a low risk, largely due to the nature of their tasks.
Racism Impact: Taking a broader view, the study discovered that around 19% of American workers are in jobs that have a high level of exposure to AI technologies, suggesting a potentially significant impact on racial disparities within the workforce.
When compared to white, black, and Hispanic workers, Asian workers have a 24% higher chance of being moved to a new job. The results showed that about 20% of white workers were at risk, while 15% of black workers and 13% of hispanic workers were also at risk.
Additional Findings: The Pew Research Center’s study also pointed out a slight gender gap when it comes to AI exposure in the workplace. About 21% of female workers face a risk of job displacement or augmentation due to AI, slightly higher than the 19% of their male counterparts. This variation could be ascribed to the gender disparities existing in different job types.
Another interesting finding from the study was the connection between educational attainment and the risk of AI influence. It turned out that individuals holding a bachelor’s degree or higher, who made up 27% of the workforce, were over twice as likely to have their jobs impacted by AI technologies compared to workers with just a high school education. In the latter group, only 12% faced similar exposure to AI.
Finally, the study offered insights into income differences relating to AI exposure levels. For instance, those employed in roles with high AI exposure were earning an average hourly wage of $33, whereas workers in positions with the least AI interaction made approximately $20 per hour on average. This underscores the impact AI could have on income disparity within the workforce.
Research Findings: These findings are key as they shed light on how AI is affecting the American workforce, carrying important consequences for those in policy-making and employment roles.
The purpose of pinpointing those most susceptible to AI-driven job displacement, according to the authors of the study, is to equip policymakers with the information they need. With this data, they can form specific strategies to aid those who are affected, and devise plans to lessen the potential turbulence within the workforce.
Disruption Worldwide: Back in 2013, a study from the University of Oxford made the startling prediction that almost half of all U.S. jobs might be wiped out by AI within the next twenty years.
More recently, Goldman Sachs has thrown their hat into the ring with their own study, suggesting that generative AI tools could potentially shake up around 300 million full-time jobs across the globe, hinting at a massive shift in the worldwide job market.
