Pearson Skills Outlook report: 46% of time spent on accounting tasks will be Gen AI automated by 2032 in India
New Pearson research shows Generative AI will have a greater impact on white-collar jobs than blue-collar jobs in the next 10 years
New workplace research from Pearson, the world’s leading learning company, finds that white-collar roles are under greater threat from generative AI than blue-collar roles, as the technology takes a greater foothold in the global economy.
The latest installment of Pearson’s Skills Outlook series looks at ‘Gen AI Proof Jobs’ – analyzing the impact of generative AI on more than 5000 jobs in five countries – Australia, Brazil, India, the US, and the UK.
The report suggests that the variation in impact between white-collar and blue-collar roles is attributed to the nature of tasks performed by each role. Many administrative roles contain repetitive tasks – such as scheduling appointments or answering and directing calls – that can be easily replicated by generative AI. The report cites that, in India, around 30% or more of the time spent on tasks involved in the working week of some white-collar roles could be done by generative AI. In comparison, less than 1% of a blue-collar worker’s job in a working week could be done by generative AI.
This trend is especially notable in India, where the report highlights a significant 29% difference in the task-level impact between the most affected white-collar and blue-collar jobs in India. In contrast, the report reveals that the five least impacted blue-collar jobs have no tasks affected, while the least impacted white-collar jobs all have around 10% or more of time spent on tasks affected.
In India, the most impacted jobs are (by % of time spent on tasks that can be automated or augmented by generative AI):
White Collar Jobs
- Accounting and Book Keeping Clerks- 46%
- Word Processor and Related Operators- 40%
- Administrative Secretaries and Related Associate Professionals- 38%
- Stall and Market Salespersons- 30%
- Accountants- 28%
Blue Collar Jobs
- Weavers, Knitters and Related Workers- 17%
- Basketry Weavers, Brush Makers and Related Workers- 17%
- Weaving and Knitting Machine Operators- 16%
- Waiters and Bartenders- 15%
- Bakers, Pastry Cooks and Confectionery Makers- 15%
Mike Howells, President, Pearson Workforce Skills, said:
“As employees look to the future, understanding which jobs are at risk from AI allows them to prepare. They should also consider where new roles might be created by Gen AI. Workers and employers should look at how they can ride this wave of change by using the best of AI and the best of human skills together – whether that is using the technology to take over repetitive tasks, so people can focus on high-value activities, or enhancing those uniquely human skills like creativity, communication and leadership.”
The least impacted jobs in India (by % of time spent on tasks that can be automated or augmented by generative AI) are:
White Collar Jobs
- Working Proprietors, Directors and Executives in Transport and Communication-10%
- Working Proprietors and Directors, Lodging and Catering Services-10%
- Sales and Marketing Managers-10%
- Working Proprietors and Directors, Manufacturing, Wholesale & Retail-10%
- Lawyer-10%
Blue Collar Jobs
- Bricklayer and Stone Masons-0%
- Construction & Maintenance Labourers, Roads, Dams and Similar Constructions-0%
- Hand Launderers and Pressers-0%
- Sewers, Embroiderers and Related Workers-0%
- Varnishers and Related Painters-0%
Pearson’s Skills Outlook series provides vital insight into the immediate needs of the modern workforce, to help employers and employees stay relevant and adaptable for the long term. The first Skills Outlook report examined the most in-demand skills from an employer’s perspective, while this second study, Employee View, looked at skilling through an employee’s lens. This third edition of the Pearson Outlook Skills report, Gen AI-proof jobs, highlights the potential impact of Gen AI on jobs globally.
About the research
For this Skills Outlook research report, Pearson used tools based on generative AI to analyze the specific tasks related to more than 5,000 jobs and how much time is currently spent on each. We then calculated how much of a job’s work, by time spent on individual tasks, would be affected by generative AI. This gives the percentage of time saved due to Generative AI by 2032, per task – and, so, which jobs will be most or least impacted. With nearly 1,400 enterprise clients, Pearson has a strong foundation and unique expertise in the workforce skilling market.
Notes to Editors
Media contacts
Astha Gupta: [email protected] || 9667579082
Methodology – The data we have used
Census and other workforce datasets were consolidated to create a single view of the current workforce in the US, UK, Australia, India and Brazil. Using Pearson’s proprietary occupations ontology of 5,600 jobs and 26,000 tasks, each job can be viewed as a collection of tasks. This allows our machine learning algorithms to calculate future technology impact on each job at a task level. Our models consider the impact of 16 groups of emerging technologies, with the rate of adoption for each technology tailored by country and industry. Alongside technology impact, economic modelling is used to account for country and industry-specific growth trends. In this analysis, the technology impact due to Generative AI technologies was calculated for every job in the five countries, looking 10 years into the future.
About Pearson
At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to add life to a lifetime of learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. That’s why our c. 20,000 Pearson employees are committed to creating vibrant and enriching learning experiences designed for real-life impact. We are the world’s leading learning company, serving customers in nearly 200 countries with digital content, assessments, qualifications, and data. For us, learning isn’t just what we do. It’s who we are. Visit us at pearsonplc.com.
