Anxious about AI job cuts? How white-collar workers can protect themselves - starting now

"What's been a hard 12 months for professionals just got tougher. Fears over the increased use of AI to complete white-collar roles have been compounded by news of layoffs. If you're a mid-level professional, it's tough not to feel anxious about the future of work. In a memo to staff last week, Beth Galetti, senior vice president of people experience and technology at Amazon, said her company's decision to cut 14,000 corporate roles was aimed at "reducing bureaucracy, removing layers, and shifting resources.""

"The news from Amazon is the latest in a series of layoffs by big businesses. Experts believe one significant factor affecting the fast-changing job market is AI. Earlier this year, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warned that AI could be responsible for eliminating half of all entry-level white-collar jobs -- while spiking unemployment to 10-20% -- in the next one to five years."

"First, said Bev White, executive chair at technology and talent solutions provider Nash Squared, professionals must be honest. Examine your role and make a genuine assessment of how at risk it is from AI, now or in the future. Also: A minority of businesses have won big with AI. What are they doing right? "Think about what transferable skills you have, the core human skills that machines can't replace, and where they can be applied," she told ZDNET, suggesting professionals should research the market, network with contacts, and look for opportunities."

Major employers are cutting corporate roles as AI changes the nature of white-collar work. Amazon reduced 14,000 corporate positions to remove bureaucracy, layers, and shift resources. AI combined with layoffs is increasing anxiety among mid-level professionals and threatening many entry-level white-collar jobs. Forecasts warn AI could eliminate a large share of entry-level roles and push unemployment higher within a few years. Professionals are advised to honestly assess their role's vulnerability to AI, identify transferable human skills, research market opportunities, expand networks, and reskill into areas where machines are less likely to replace them.

Read at ZDNET