AI impacts in BLS employment projections

Technology is a perennial factor impacting the job outlook for many occupations, and artificial intelligence (AI) is a recent type of technology with potential impacts. Over the 2023–33 employment projections period, AI is expected to primarily affect occupations whose core tasks can be most easily replicated by Generative AI in its current form. However, other jobs, including some in the computer, legal, business and financial, and architecture and engineering occupational groups are also potentially susceptible to AI-related impacts, although the employment trajectories of these occupations remain uncertain.

Workers in many computer-related occupations use AI in their day-to-day work. Programming is one of many work activities in which AI is well suited to augment worker efforts and increase productivity. Software developers can use AI to develop, test, and document code; improve data quality; and build user stories that articulate how a software feature will provide value. However, AI may also support demand for computer occupations, as software developers may be needed to develop AI-based business solutions and maintain AI systems, and database administrators and architects are expected to be needed to set up and maintain more complex data infrastructure. BLS projects employment of software developers to increase 17.9 percent between 2023 and 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations (4.0 percent). Employment of database administrators is projected to grow 8.2 percent, faster than average, and employment of database architects is projected to grow 10.8 percent, much faster than average for all occupations, from 2023 to 2033.

The business and financial operations occupational group also may be affected by AI. Personal financial advisors have already begun to see job competition from AI. Specifically, app-based “robo-advisors” have started to compete with human advisors by providing automated financial advice. Although AI technology can compete with personal financial advisors at their core tasks, demand for human advisors is still expected to remain very strong. Employment of personal financial advisors is projected to grow 17.1 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than average.

AI can support many tasks involved in architecture and engineering occupations, potentially increasing worker productivity. In fact, many engineering fields are already harnessing the power of various AI tools. Underlying demand for engineering services is expected to remain strong, resulting in employment growth for most engineering occupations over the 2023–33 decade. Employment of aerospace engineers is projected to grow 6.0 percent from 2023 to 2033, faster than average, and employment of aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians is projected to grow 7.9 percent, also faster than average. Employment is expected to grow for electrical and electronics engineers (9.1 percent), electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians (3.0 percent), and computer hardware engineers (7.2 percent)

AI, with its ability to sift through massive amounts of information and synthesize findings and thereby reduce the time lawyers and paralegals spend on various tasks related to document review, can potentially greatly enhance productivity in the legal services industry. Employment of lawyers is projected to grow 5.2 percent through 2033, about as fast as the average for all occupations, while employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 1.2 percent, slower than the average for all occupations.

These data are from the BLS Employment Projections program. For more information, see “Incorporating AI impacts in BLS employment projections: occupational case studies,” in the Monthly Labor Review.