Author(s): Daniel Morgan
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming employment by changing the tasks, skills, occupations, and organizational structures that define contemporary work. The emergence of generative AI (GenAI) has intensified concerns about technological unemployment while creating opportunities for productivity improvement, new occupations, and human–AI collaboration. This perspective article argues that the debate should move beyond the question of whether AI will replace workers and instead examine how AI will transform jobs, redistribute opportunities, influence job quality, and reshape career pathways. Current evidence indicates that AI exposure is widespread but uneven across occupations, countries, education levels, and demographic groups. The International Labour Organization estimates that approximately one in four workers globally is in an occupation with some exposure to GenAI, while emphasizing that job transformation is more likely than complete replacement. The article examines AI-driven employment transformation, unequal exposure, youth employment, reskilling, job quality, and the implications for emerging economies such as India. It argues that the employment consequences of AI are not technologically predetermined. They will depend on organizational decisions, education systems, labour-market institutions, and public policy. A human-centred approach to AI adoption is therefore essential to ensure that technological progress contributes to productive, inclusive, and sustainable employment.
The Journal of International Social Research received 8982 citations as per Google Scholar report
