The AI Landscape: Potential Job Displacement for Asian American and Women Workers

By Moon Harper

Dec 11, 2023 05:01 AM EST

American Worker — (Photo : Unsplash/Jodie Cook)

As AI becomes more prominent, a new study reveals that Asian Americans and women will likely be significantly impacted. These groups, who are already highly involved with AI in their jobs, may face job displacement due to the advancement of this technology.

A recent study from the Pew Research Center found that among all U.S. ethnic groups, Asian Americans have the highest percentage of workers regularly exposed to AI. Specifically, 24% of Asian American workers are in jobs classified as "most exposed," where AI could potentially alter or take over crucial job activities. This figure is higher than the percentages for whites, Blacks, and Hispanics. The term "most exposed" indicates that AI may impact the essential tasks of these jobs. According to Rakesh Kochhar, a senior researcher at Pew and the study's author, the future impact of AI on these jobs is uncertain and could bring both benefits and challenges.

Job Categories and AI Exposure

Specific high-paying jobs, such as budget analysis, data entry, and web development, face high exposure to AI due to their reliance on technology, often requiring college degrees.

Examples of medium-exposure jobs include chief executives, veterinarians, and sales managers, while low-exposure jobs involve roles like pipe layers, child care workers, and firefighters.

Asian workers have the most significant formal education and are more likely to be represented in analytical and technologically advanced roles where artificial intelligence functions. In contrast, Hispanic workers rank on the lower level and are often engaged in physical labor like construction, where AI has not yet been extended but may change in the future.

Gender Disparities in AI Exposure

The study also notes a gender difference in AI exposure, with 21% of women in high-exposure jobs compared to 17% of men. Women dominate the health and education sectors, while men are more represented in construction and manufacturing, industries with lower current AI exposure.

Despite the recent focus on concerns about AI, the research indicates that most workers in high-exposure fields are optimistic rather than fearful. In information technology jobs, for instance, 32% believe AI will have a positive impact, while only 11% anticipate adverse effects.

Predicting Future Impacts

Community leaders in the Asian American community express concerns that while technology advancements may be advantageous for those in high-paying tech jobs, lower-income Asians might be overlooked. Khánh Vũ, CEO of the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers, notes that those who arrived during the tech boom have benefited enormously. Those who came through war or with different immigration statuses are often engaged in more blue-collar work and may not enjoy the same benefits.

While lower-income Asians currently work in fields with less AI exposure, the ongoing development of technology, including robotics, may automate some of their physical labor jobs. This automation could significantly impact these workers, who may have limited room to adapt to the changes. Khánh Vũ notes that overall, AI has the potential to amplify existing societal disparities. Despite the current trends, he emphasizes the difficulty of predicting the future impact of AI, stating that we are just at the beginning of this technological revolution.