Future of Innovation: Research
Thought and practice leadership
AI job disruption forecast
How will artificial intelligence (AI) change the way we work?
The Future of Innovation Lab x Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities has begun co-forecasting with AI to advance its job forecasting methods. This offers advantages over traditional job forecasting approaches, which often require extensive research cycles that can take months or even years to complete.
We convert job descriptions into a standardised set of Intermediate Work Activities (IWA) based on O*NET classifications, utilising our proprietary universal task translator query system to ensure consistency and accuracy. Once the tasks are properly categorised, we leverage advanced AI models and platforms to conduct detailed forecasts using our proprietary methodology.
In this blog series, we share insights from our job forecasts. While the general patterns are similar (as expected) across different professions, the extent to which the human worker experiences these impacts varies. What happens to the human worker, how we help them thrive, and how we empower them when they are badly hit, is where we have chosen to focus. We have developed approaches to study the analytical and human-social tasks specific to each profession, to remain human-centric and help everyone cut through the noise on AI’s impact – just as we did with Singapore’s first human-centric, industry-agnostic job redesign guide in the last wave of AI – see “A Guide to Job Redesign in the Age of AI”.
Feel free to reach out to find out more and collaborate.
Issue 11: Associate, Client Accounts
The role of a Client Accounts Associate could shift away from manual processing toward oversight, relationship management and value-added advisory tasks.
Issue 10: Management Consultant
Technical analysis and reporting will increasingly be handled by AI, while consultants will remain indispensable for strategic insight, change leadership, and guiding organisations through uncertainty.
Issue 9: Quantity Surveyor
The future could see much of the technical and administrative workload to be handled by AI, with Quantity Surveyors focusing more on high-value oversight, strategic decisions, and stakeholder engagement.
Issue 8: Social Worker
There is a trend where AI is less likely to replace emotional labour but will significantly affect documentation-heavy aspects of the job.
Issue 7: Sales Manager
Our insights suggests that Sales Managers need to emphasise relationship-building, strategic decision-making, and client engagement skills to maintain their competitive edge.
Issue 6: Solutions Architect
Solution Architects must focus on leveraging their strengths in interdisciplinary thinking and leadership – areas where they continue to hold a clear edge over AI.
Issue 5: Data Scientist
It is important to future-proof data science careers by focusing on human-centric skills such as domain expertise, stakeholder communication, and ethical oversight—areas where AI is still far from matching human judgment.
Issue 4: Accounts Assistant
While automation will likely streamline much of the transactional workload for Accounts Assistants, human skills will remain vital to maintaining relevance in an AI-driven workplace.
Issue 3: Executive, Quality Service Management
The role of Executive, Quality Service Management is expected to undergo significant transformation. Our insights underscore the importance of proactive workforce planning.
Issue 2: Digital Marketing Manager
Our insights suggest that while digital marketing managers are likely to see automation reshape analytical and technical functions first, uniquely human skills like strategic planning, creativity, and stakeholder communication will be key to staying relevant in an AI-driven future.