21 July 2023

Rapid advances in the development and adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) provide new opportunities but also raise fears about disruptive labour market and workplace transitions.

While there are many potential benefits resulting from AI, there are also significant risks that need to be addressed. Policies and social dialogue can play a key role in investigating these risks.

For many workers, the effects of AI will be visible not in terms of last employment but through changes in the tasks they perform at work and changes in job quality.

For workers with the skills to complement AI, task changes should be accompanied by rising wages, but wages could decline for workers who find themselves squeezed into a diminished share of tasks due to automation.

AI may affect job quality through other mechanisms as well. For example, it can reduce dangerous tasks, but it may also leave workers with a higher-paced work environment.

The development of artificial intelligence will likely have a profound impact on labour markets, not only in terms of employment levels and job quality, but also on how work is organised, the type of tasks workers perform.

Of great importance will be countries’ policy action affecting the development and use of AI in the workplace, especially public policy to protect workers fundamental rights, ensure transparency and explainability of AI systems, and clarify accountability across the AI value chain.

More in the publication: OECD Employment Outlook 2023, 11 July 2023

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