How 10 AI-impacted jobs are projected to grow

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock The rise of artificial intelligence has inspired widespread fears that intelligent machines might displace human work. A 2021 report from the National Bureau of Economic Research found automation was responsible for 50-70% of the decline in U.S. wages since 1980. A 2022 Bureau of Labor Statistics report identified 10 occupations facing a high risk of automation–yet BLS data additionally shows approximately 447,000 new jobs will be created by 2032 in those same 10 occupations. Revelo used BLS data to identify projected growth in each of these 10 occupations, compiling the updated employment projections for those jobs. Occupations are ranked by their projected growth from 2022 to 2032 in order of lowest to highest. The BLS finalized these estimates in spring 2023, when new AI tools like ChatGPT were still new, and their impact was uncertain. New estimates covering 2023 to 2033, however, will come out in August 2024 with updated considerations for AI’s potential effects on the job market. The BLS projects the jobs featured on this list to grow more than total U.S. employment over the next decade–at around 3% compared to 2.8% for all jobs–after which time they’re expected to constitute the same share of overall employment in the economy, around 9%. According to the International Monetary Fund, the rise of AI is predicted to impact 40% of jobs in the future, potentially increasing inequality. Goldman Sachs research shows AI could contribute to a 7% increase in global gross domestic product and boost productivity growth by 1.5 percentage points over a decade. Nonetheless, the research suggests, the growth in GDP will come at the risk of 300 million jobs being automated away. However, AI is poised to complement–not replace–roles for the following jobs. Keep reading to see how 10 AI-impacted jobs are expected to grow. #10. Maids and housekeeping cleaners Canva – Projected new jobs by 2032: 1,600 (+0.1% from 2022) – Total projected jobs in 2032: 1.2 million AI can automate maids’ and housekeepers’ repetitive, predictive tasks without automating the human workers away. Examples of complementary AI functions range from optimizing cleaning schedules or predicting when appliances and furniture need maintenance. Without actual robotics, customer-facing aspects of the job–such as greeting customers or providing personalized human care–cannot be automated. #9. Surgeons, except ophthalmologists Canva – Projected new jobs by 2032: 200 (+0.8% from 2022) – Total projected jobs in 2032: 26,800 Surgeons can benefit from AI by receiving personalized feedback on surgeries, leveraging realistic simulations to practice skills, and receiving real-time assistance and guidance during surgeries. AI can also help surgeons obtain accurate, machine-assisted diagnoses of patient problems and receive personalized evaluations of the risks a patient would face if the surgeon proceeds with a chosen procedure. At present, AI is set to augment much of a surgeon’s work without replacing them entirely. Accountability and attribution should AI-assisted surgeries go wrong are significant challenges for automation. #8. Janitors and cleaners Canva – Projected new jobs by 2032: 29,900 (+1.3% from 2022) – Total projected jobs in 2032: 2.4 million AI-powered vacuum cleaners can help clean tough spots and inaccessible corners, while AI-powered predictive analysis can give janitors and cleaners customized cleaning schedules based on foot traffic and predict when items need to be restocked or sent to maintenance. But while these tasks can improve the work of janitors and cleaners, AI cannot entirely replace the people doing the actual work. A significant barrier to AI adoption in this sector is the price of AI-powered cleaning technology, which can be expensive for small businesses. Furthermore, cleaning and janitorial work requires interpersonal interactions AI can’t seamlessly replicate. #7. Fast food and counter workers