A recent study conducted by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has unveiled the professions most vulnerable to being replaced by artificial intelligence (AI) within the next year. The research involved over 2,000 employers who shared insights on their upcoming hiring, layoff, and salary strategies.
According to the study, approximately 17% of employers anticipate a reduction in their workforce due to AI, with a majority (62%) pointing to potential job losses in clerical, junior managerial, professional, or administrative positions. Notably, 26% of large private sector firms foresee a decrease in their workforce, a higher percentage compared to the private and public sectors.
Among employers expecting job cuts, 26% predict a reduction of over 10% in their workforce. Additionally, 22% of employers plan to make staff redundancies in the final quarter of 2025, while 61% intend to recruit for new positions during the same period.
James Cockett, a senior labor market economist at CIPD, emphasized the transformative impact of AI on various job roles. He stressed the urgent need for a national initiative to retrain and upskill individuals across all career stages to adapt to the evolving job landscape driven by AI technology.
The report comes at a time when the UK’s unemployment rate rose to 5% in the September quarter, marking the highest level since August 2016, excluding pandemic-related fluctuations. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) highlighted these figures, reflecting the challenges posed by changing employment dynamics and the need for strategic workforce planning and skill development.
For further insights, the complete CIPD report can be accessed through the provided link.