“Generative AI Set to Reduce 46% of Time Spent on Accounting Tasks in India”

Generative AI Could Take Over 30% of White-Collar Work

A recent report by learning company Pearson reveals that over 30% of the tasks in certain white-collar jobs, such as accountants, bookkeeping clerks, word processor operators, administrative secretaries, and stall/market salespersons, could be performed by generative AI. In contrast, less than 1% of blue-collar workers’ job tasks could be taken over by generative AI in a working week.

Many administrative roles involve repetitive tasks that can easily be replicated by generative AI. This trend is especially noticeable in India, where there is a significant 29% difference in the task-level impact between the most affected white-collar and blue-collar jobs.

The report identifies specific job roles that are most impacted in India, with accounting and book-keeping being at the top of the list (46%), followed by word processors and related operators (40%). Mike Howells, President of Pearson Workforce Skills, urges workers and employers to prepare for this shift, while also considering where new roles might be created by generative AI. The report also highlights the least impacted jobs in India, such as working proprietors, directors, executives in transport and communication, and sales and marketing managers.

The Pearson report, part of the ‘Skills Outlook’ series, examined the impact of generative AI on over 5,000 jobs in Australia, Brazil, India, the US, and the UK. This shift towards AI taking over a significant portion of white-collar job tasks is expected to prompt workers and employers to adapt and consider how AI and human skills can work together to navigate this new wave of change.