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Since the public release of generative artificial intelligence programs like ChatGPT, Claude and others, many in the workforce have wondered if AI would eliminate their jobs.Researchers from Harvard Business School sought out to answer that question. Their research found job postings for occupations that involve a lot of structured and repetitive tasks that can be performed by AI have decreased by 13% since 2022. While the demand for jobs with repetitive tasks decreased, jobs that required more analytical, technical and creative skills grew 20%.What job tasks can AI currently perform? The research team used two databases, Occupational Information Network and U.S. job postings from LightCast, to analyze the job market from 2019 to March 2025. The Occupational Information Network’s dataset is maintained by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration and contains more than 900 occupations and more than 19,000 tasks.The research team used ChatGPT to determine whether AI could perform tasks across these jobs and assign a score of the likelihood of automation. They also assigned a separate score to determine whether AI could help improve efficiency in certain occupations.Out of the 911 jobs analyzed, about 164 scored at .5 or higher, automation score. The occupation with the highest automation score, meaning AI can perform many routine, repetitive tasks, was correspondence clerks. Interpreters and translators had the second-highest score, followed by court, municipal and license clerks. Most of the jobs that scored a zero, meaning AI cannot perform any of the tasks, were hands-on, technical skills. Skills that are needed in industries like production, construction and transportation.Use the Get the Facts Data Team’s interactive tool below to see the likelihood of AI being able to perform that job. Select a category below and click the dots to see the automation score of that job. Microbiologists, financial analysts and clinical neuropsychologists were among the professions researchers identified where AI could help improve efficiency. Investment managers and analysts could use AI tools to process and evaluate market data but still need to rely on their judgment and decision-making. How AI is reshaping the workforce and what it could mean in the futureIn their study, the researchers, Suraj Srinivasan, Wilbur Xinyuan Chen and Saleh Zakerinia, found that AI is reshaping the workforce by changing demand for labor and skill sets. Fewer job postings were requiring workers to have skills for repetitive tasks and instead asked for more advanced skill sets.There are some limitations to the research conducted by Srinivasan, Chen and Zakerinia. The analysis only looked at the short-term effects AI has had on the labor market so far and does not address long-term impacts. How companies implement AI tools will determine whether the job market sees job loss or growth, researchers warn. They recommend that companies invest in training programs to help workers transition into roles that use AI tools but still rely on non-automatable skills. The study also uses job postings as a proxy for the labor market, meaning “ghost job postings” could distort the true picture of hiring trends for white-collar jobs.Search the table below to see how different postings scored in automation.
Since the public release of generative artificial intelligence programs like ChatGPT, Claude and others, many in the workforce have wondered if AI would eliminate their jobs.
Researchers from Harvard Business School sought out to answer that question. Their research found job postings for occupations that involve a lot of structured and repetitive tasks that can be performed by AI have decreased by 13% since 2022.
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While the demand for jobs with repetitive tasks decreased, jobs that required more analytical, technical and creative skills grew 20%.
What job tasks can AI currently perform?
The research team used two databases, Occupational Information Network and U.S. job postings from LightCast, to analyze the job market from 2019 to March 2025. The Occupational Information Network’s dataset is maintained by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration and contains more than 900 occupations and more than 19,000 tasks.
The research team used ChatGPT to determine whether AI could perform tasks across these jobs and assign a score of the likelihood of automation. They also assigned a separate score to determine whether AI could help improve efficiency in certain occupations.
Out of the 911 jobs analyzed, about 164 scored at .5 or higher, automation score. The occupation with the highest automation score, meaning AI can perform many routine, repetitive tasks, was correspondence clerks.
Interpreters and translators had the second-highest score, followed by court, municipal and license clerks. Most of the jobs that scored a zero, meaning AI cannot perform any of the tasks, were hands-on, technical skills. Skills that are needed in industries like production, construction and transportation.
Use the Get the Facts Data Team‘s interactive tool below to see the likelihood of AI being able to perform that job. Select a category below and click the dots to see the automation score of that job.
Microbiologists, financial analysts and clinical neuropsychologists were among the professions researchers identified where AI could help improve efficiency. Investment managers and analysts could use AI tools to process and evaluate market data but still need to rely on their judgment and decision-making.
How AI is reshaping the workforce and what it could mean in the future
In their study, the researchers, Suraj Srinivasan, Wilbur Xinyuan Chen and Saleh Zakerinia, found that AI is reshaping the workforce by changing demand for labor and skill sets. Fewer job postings were requiring workers to have skills for repetitive tasks and instead asked for more advanced skill sets.
There are some limitations to the research conducted by Srinivasan, Chen and Zakerinia. The analysis only looked at the short-term effects AI has had on the labor market so far and does not address long-term impacts.
How companies implement AI tools will determine whether the job market sees job loss or growth, researchers warn. They recommend that companies invest in training programs to help workers transition into roles that use AI tools but still rely on non-automatable skills.
The study also uses job postings as a proxy for the labor market, meaning “ghost job postings” could distort the true picture of hiring trends for white-collar jobs.
Search the table below to see how different postings scored in automation.
