A recent study by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has identified the job sectors most susceptible to automation by Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the coming year. The research, based on a survey of over 2,000 employers, indicates that approximately 17% of employers anticipate a reduction in their workforce due to AI technologies. Among these employers, about 62% believe that roles in clerical, junior managerial, professional, or administrative positions are most likely to be impacted.
The study further reveals that 26% of employers in large private sector companies foresee a decrease in their workforce, contrasting with 17% in the private sector and 20% in the public sector. Additionally, a quarter of those expecting job cuts estimate losing more than 10% of their workforce, while 22% of employers plan to make redundancies within the last three months of 2025, although 61% are planning to hire for new positions.
James Cockett, a senior labor market economist at the CIPD, emphasized the transformative impact of AI on work dynamics. He stressed the importance of a national initiative to retrain and upskill individuals of all career stages in response to the evolving job landscape shaped by AI. Cockett highlighted the necessity for effective workforce planning and skill development to enable workers to adapt to an AI-driven economy successfully.
The rise in the UK’s unemployment rate to 5% in the three months leading up to September, as reported by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), underscores the challenges faced in the job market. This rate, the highest since August 2016 excluding pandemic-related distortions, signals the need for proactive measures to address the evolving employment landscape influenced by technological advancements.
For further insights, the full CIPD report can be accessed via their official website.
