1 in 4 Jobs Set for Transformation by Generative AI

ChatGPT is one of the world’s most widely used generative AI systems, with nearly 400 million active weekly users. Credit: Sanket Mishra/Pexels

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping the global workforce. Designed to mimic human cognition and process vast quantities of information, these systems are not only boosting efficiency and productivity across industries but also challenging the very nature of employment as we know it.

Once limited to repetitive or rule-based tasks, AI has now evolved to perform complex cognitive functions—such as decision-making, problem-solving, and even creativity. From customer service chatbots and financial analysis to content creation and software development, generative AI is capable of performing tasks previously thought to be the exclusive domain of humans.

However, this technological leap is accompanied by growing unease. Labour organizations, policymakers, and researchers are increasingly warning of the disruptive impact generative AI may have on workers around the world. While the technology promises significant economic benefits, it also poses risks to job security, income stability, and equality.

A recent report published by the International Labour Organization (ILO) on May 20, titled Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure, presents a comprehensive analysis of these effects. Building upon its 2023 research, the ILO's 2025 report utilises enhanced data collection tools—including AI simulations and human reviews—to assess nearly 30,000 occupational tasks worldwide. Its goal: to help governments and industries understand how generative AI is altering the employment landscape and prepare for the future of work.

“By combining human insight, expert review, and generative AI models, we’ve created a replicable method that helps countries assess risk and respond with precision,” said Pawel Gmyrek, ILO Senior Researcher and lead author of the study.

According to the report, around one in four jobs worldwide is currently at risk of being transformed by generative AI—a significant increase from previous estimates. But rather than forecasting mass unemployment, the report makes a crucial distinction: most workers are more likely to experience a transformation of their job responsibilities rather than a complete loss of employment.

This transformation may involve automation of routine tasks, integration of AI-powered tools, or a shift in required skills. The report introduces the concepts of job automation—where tasks are taken over entirely by machines—and job augmentation, where AI assists workers and enhances their capabilities.

“The main risk from generative AI today is not the ‘end of work’, but the rapid and unregulated transformation of certain occupations,” Gmyrek said. “The real challenge lies in managing this transformation to protect job quality and prevent worsening inequality.”

Who Is Most at Risk?

The risk is not distributed evenly across the globe or within economies. The report finds that high-income countries face a greater risk of job automation, with an estimated 5.5% of jobs exposed to full AI automation, compared to just 0.4% in low-income countries. This disparity is partly due to the wider adoption of digital tools and AI technologies in developed economies.

Job sectors most vulnerable to generative AI include clerical and administrative roles, which involve tasks such as data entry, scheduling, record management, and customer communications. These are precisely the types of tasks that AI excels at performing faster, more accurately, and at a lower cost.

Additionally, fields such as software development, digital media, finance, and marketing—which already use a range of digital tools—are also experiencing rapid changes due to AI integration. In these sectors, generative AI is not just assisting but actively reshaping workflows and redefining skill requirements.

“Whether a job evolves or becomes obsolete depends on how digital it already is,” said Gmyrek. “In digital-heavy sectors, AI complements the work, but in lower-tech settings, entire workflows could be replaced.”

Despite this, certain occupations remain relatively insulated from AI disruption. Jobs that require manual labour, physical presence, or human empathy, such as maintenance, construction, food production, caregiving, and repair services, are currently at low risk of automation. These roles involve complex physical tasks, contextual decision-making, and interpersonal skills that generative AI cannot yet replicate.

Gender and Inequality Concerns

The ILO report also highlights that women face higher risks of AI-related job transformation than men. This is due to occupational segregation: women are disproportionately employed in administrative and clerical roles, which are among the most exposed to AI automation.

According to the study, 9.6% of jobs held by women fall into high-exposure categories, compared to just 3.5% of men’s jobs. Without proactive measures to retrain and upskill affected workers, the gender gap in employment and income could widen significantly.

“If left unchecked, generative AI could exacerbate existing inequalities—social, gender-based, and economic,” the report warns.

A Call for Proactive Adaptation

Despite the risks, the ILO remains hopeful that generative AI can be harnessed to augment rather than replace human work—if governments, businesses, and educational institutions act swiftly. The report urges policymakers to invest in reskilling programmes, worker protections, and digital infrastructure to ensure a smooth transition.

“Countries that act now can turn potential disruption into opportunity,” said ILO Senior Economist Janine Berg. “With clarity, coordination, and care, AI can drive inclusive and sustainable growth.”

The ILO emphasizes that human labour remains essential, especially in roles requiring ethics, empathy, cultural understanding, and creativity—traits that AI cannot replicate. It stresses that a successful transition to an AI-enhanced future depends on policies that protect workers, promote fairness, and prioritise long-term job quality over short-term efficiency.

“We must ensure that AI augments human potential—not undermines it,” Gmyrek concluded.