One of the most pressing questions about generative AI (gen AI) is how it will reshape the workforce—with the risks of job displacement potentially more pronounced for workers of color. Black Americans, for example, are overrepresented in roles most likely to be taken over by automation. According to senior partner Mark McMillan and colleagues, leaning in to “future-proof skills”—such as socioemotional understanding and comfort with ambiguity—could help Black workers remain resilient amid the rapid changes that gen AI will bring.
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Two columns of horizontal bar graphs show the automation adoption rate and average annual wages of select occupations. A 3rd column shows which of the following future-proof skills each role provides: physical presence, socioemotional understanding, and comfort with ambiguity. Roles that pay well and have low automation adoption rates include dental hygienists, social and community service managers, commercial and industrial designers, occupational health and safety specialists, training and development specialists, special education teachers, and respiratory therapists. Of those, only dental hygienists and respiratory therapists don’t require a 4-year degree.
Source: McKinsey analysis; McKinsey Global Institute analysis.
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To read the article, see “The impact of generative AI on Black communities,” December 19, 2023.