A recent study conducted by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has unveiled the occupations most susceptible to being replaced by artificial intelligence (AI) within the upcoming year. Findings from a survey of more than 2,000 employers indicate that about 17% of them anticipate a reduction in their workforce due to AI, with approximately 62% pointing to clerical, junior managerial, professional, or administrative positions as the most vulnerable.

Among the surveyed employers, 26% of those in large private sector companies foresee a decrease in their workforce, compared to 17% in the private sector and 20% in the public sector. Additionally, a quarter of those expecting job cuts anticipate losing more than 10% of their workforce, while 22% of employers plan to make redundancies in the three months leading up to December 2025. However, 61% of them 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 work dynamics, stressing the importance of national efforts to retrain and upskill individuals across various career stages. He underscored the necessity for swift progress in the development of the Growth and Skills Levy, informed by meaningful discussions with employers, to ensure that workers are adequately prepared for an AI-driven economy.

The government and employers are urged to place a stronger emphasis on long-term workforce planning and skill development to help individuals effectively navigate the evolving landscape of AI utilization in the workplace. Concerns were raised regarding the potential challenges in hiring individuals with less experience and greater development needs, especially in light of recent increases in employment costs and proposed measures in the Employment Rights Bill.

Amid these discussions, the Office for National Statistics reported a rise in the UK’s unemployment rate to 5% in the three months leading up to September, marking the highest level since August 2016 excluding pandemic-related anomalies. For further insights, the full CIPD report can be accessed here.