1 week ago
World Bank Says India’s AI Risk Centers on White-Collar Jobs
The World Bank says AI may affect different countries in different ways.
In India, some office jobs and beginner-level jobs could face the most immediate changes.
AI can do some tasks, but it can also help people perform their work better.
Fewer jobs in developing countries are currently considered automatable than in richer countries.
Many jobs in developing countries could instead be supported by AI.
New jobs requiring AI skills are appearing, including software and web development roles.
However, these opportunities are much more common in high-income countries.
The benefits of AI will depend on workers’ skills, digital access, and how well businesses adapt.
AI disruption in India may initially affect white-collar and entry-level workers whose tasks are more exposed to automation.
About 4.5% of jobs in low- and middle-income countries are amenable to generative-AI automation, compared with 14.2% in high-income countries.
AI could complement 16.2% of jobs in low- and middle-income countries by increasing workers’ capabilities.
Online job postings mentioning AI skills have risen sharply since 2023, including roles for software and systems developers.
In the first half of 2025, AI-related job postings were more than five times as common in high-income countries as in middle-income countries.
- Who
- The World Bank, workers, businesses, and economies in developing and high-income countries, including India.
- What
- A World Bank report assesses how generative AI could automate jobs, support workers, and create demand for AI-related skills.
- Where
- The findings cover low- and middle-income countries, high-income countries, and India specifically.
- When
- The report cites trends since 2023 and online job-posting data from the first half of 2025.
- Why
- AI’s effects depend on the type of work, workers’ skills, digital infrastructure, and the ability of firms and workers to adapt.
Automation Risks
AI Opportunities
Effect on employment
Automation Risks
AI may initially disrupt Indian white-collar and entry-level workers whose tasks are most exposed to automation.
AI Opportunities
AI can complement workers, increase their capabilities, and help businesses become more productive.
Access to new jobs
Automation Risks
AI-related opportunities are unevenly distributed, with far fewer postings mentioning AI skills in middle-income countries than in high-income countries.
AI Opportunities
Demand for AI skills has risen sharply since 2023, creating roles such as software developers, systems analysts, and web developers.
Developing-country outlook
Automation Risks
Workers and businesses may struggle to benefit if skills, digital infrastructure, and adaptation capacity are insufficient.
AI Opportunities
Developing countries may use AI to address shortages of expertise while facing a lower immediate risk of large-scale job disruption.
Key facts
- Automation exposure
- About 4.5% of jobs in low- and middle-income countries are amenable to generative-AI automation.
- High-income comparison
- About 14.2% of jobs in high-income countries are amenable to generative-AI automation.
- Potential complementarity
- About 16.2% of jobs in low- and middle-income countries are amenable to being complemented by AI.
- Most exposed sectors
- Cognitive-work sectors such as information and communication technology, finance, and business services have greater exposure.
- Emerging roles
- AI-related postings include software developers, systems analysts, and web developers.
- Unequal demand
- In the first half of 2025, AI-skill mentions in online job postings were more than five times higher in high-income countries than in middle-income countries.
Sources
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