A study issued by Stanford University on Tuesday showed that the widespread use of artificial intelligence technologies is already reshaping parts of the American labor market, with younger workers being more affected.
The study revealed that employment of software developers between the ages of 22 and 25 has declined by 20 percent since late 2022.
Employment in this age group also declined by about 6 percent in jobs most vulnerable to the influence of artificial intelligence, while industries in which artificial intelligence was only limitedly integrated saw a 9 percent increase in hiring.
The researchers noted that customer service jobs, including call centers, were among the sectors most affected by automation.
In contrast, the number of older employees has increased in fields that rely heavily on artificial intelligence.
The authors of the study considered that artificial intelligence is capable of simulating the basic skills acquired from education, but it cannot replace the experience accumulated over years of work.
The study also found that job exclusion is more pronounced in roles that AI can fully automate, compared to areas where technology is limited to supporting workers, such as the healthcare sector, which has seen growth in employment across all age groups.
The analysis was based on data from the American company ADP, which covers between 3.5 and 5 million full-time workers per month.
Although the results indicate a tangible impact of artificial intelligence on the labor market, the researchers warned that other factors, such as adjustments in the labor market after the pandemic and economic conditions, may also have played a role.
The report also pointed out that the data, although it covers millions of workers, does not accurately reflect the general distribution of companies across the American economy.
