Gen AI will reduce 46% of time spent on accounting tasks by 2032

The report cites that, in India, around 30 percent or more of the time spent on tasks involved in the working week of some white-collar roles could be done by generative AI.

Generative AI (Gen AI) automation is poised to cut down 46 percent of time spent on accounting tasks and bookkeeping clerks by 2032 in India, according to Pearson’s Skills Outlook report which looks at ‘Gen AI Proof Jobs’.

The report suggests that the variation in impact between white-collar and blue-collar roles is attributed to the nature of tasks performed by each role. Many administrative roles contain repetitive tasks – such as scheduling appointments or answering and directing calls - that can be easily replicated by generative AI.

The report cites that, in India, around 30 percent or more of the time spent on tasks involved in the working week of some white-collar roles could be done by generative AI. In comparison, less than 1 percent of a blue-collar worker’s job in a working week could be done by generative AI.

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This trend is especially notable in India, where the report highlights a significant 29 percent difference in the task-level impact between the most affected white-collar and blue-collar jobs in India. In contrast, the report reveals that the five least impacted blue-collar jobs have no tasks affected, while the least impacted white-collar jobs all have around 10 percent or more of time spent on tasks affected.

In India, the most impacted jobs are Word Processors and Related Operators (which automates 40 percent of time spent), Administrative Secretaries and Related Associate Professionals (38 percent), Stall and Market Salespersons (30 percent), and Accountants (28 percent).

Among the blue-collar jobs, the most impacted roles include Weavers, Knitters and Related Workers (17 percent); Basketry Weavers, Brush Makers and Related Workers (17 percent); Weaving and Knitting Machine Operators (16 percent); Waiters and Bartenders (15 percent); Bakers, Pastry Cooks and Confectionery Makers (15 percent).

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"Workers and employers should look at how they can ride this wave of change by using the best of AI and the best of human skills together – whether that is using the technology to take over repetitive tasks, so people can focus on high-value activities, or enhancing those uniquely human skills like creativity, communication and leadership,” said Mike Howells, President, Pearson Workforce Skills.

The least impacted jobs in India in terms of percent of time spent on tasks that can be automated or augmented by generative AI are Working Proprietors, Directors and Executives in Transport and Communication (10 percent), Sales and Marketing Managers (10 percent) and Lawyer (10 percent)

For this Skills Outlook research report, Pearson used tools based on generative AI to analyse the specific tasks related to more than 5,000 jobs and how much time is currently spent on each.