AI Set to Revolutionize Low-Wage Service Jobs, Predicts Report: Massive Elimination Expected in 7 Years
Low-Wage Jobs Most Likely to be Eliminated by Generative AI by 2030, McKinsey Report Says
Introduction
According to a new McKinsey report, low-wage jobs in the food industry and customer service are among the positions most likely to be eliminated by generative AI by 2030. The report also highlights that jobs making under $38,000 a year are 14 times more likely to be eliminated by generative AI technology compared to other types of roles.
Shift to Online and Remote Jobs
Kweilin Ellingrud, director of the McKinsey Global Institute, states that jobs that used to be in-person and have some physical interactive element are shifting to online and remote. Delivery jobs are also on the rise.
Replacement by Devices and AI-Powered Chatbots
Low-wage jobs will be replaced by devices like fast food kiosks, which require fewer employees to operate. Customer service operations could also undergo a transformation, with AI-powered chatbots providing quick and personalized responses to complex customer questions. Generative AI can retrieve data for a specific customer faster than human sales representatives.
Automation Across the Labor Market
The McKinsey report indicates that activities accounting for 30% of hours worked across the U.S. could become automated by 2030. This could result in 12 million workers needing to change jobs within the next seven years.
Higher-Wage Jobs and AI
Higher-wage jobs that require a college degree are also likely to be altered by AI, but not completely eliminated. Fields such as STEM, creative industries, and business or legal professions will be affected. For example, graphic designers could generate a first draft faster and better with the help of AI, while nurses could spend less time entering medications into a computer and more time with their patients.
Demand for Emotional Skills
Generative AI allows skilled workers to be more productive, but employees will need to adapt to these changes by reskilling. Technological and social and emotional skills will be in high demand. Workers must be able to interact with emerging technologies efficiently, and social and emotional skills like empathy cannot be replicated by machines or AI.
About the Author
Sanvi Bangalore is a business reporting intern for CBS MoneyWatch. She attends American University in Washington, D.C., studying business administration and journalism.
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