Do you think ChatGPT will replace your job?

Robert Walters candidate survey of professionals working at companies in Japan

Specialist professional recruitment firm Robert Walters Japan released results of their latest survey looking at how employees are using ChatGPT and AI tools in the workplace at both Japanese companies and gaishikei (foreign-affiliated companies). In this follow up release, we introduce further findings from the survey on whether employees feel their job might be on the line or not with emergence of ChatGPT, and the impact it might have moving forward.

Companies should focus on developing or upskilling their staff in anticipation of new job opportunities with the emergence of ChatGPT:

• 75% of company employees feel that their employers should focus on developing their staff since ChatGPT became available.
• Only 25% of office workers feel that their employers are putting more effort into developing their people since ChatGPT became available.
• 34% of female office workers and 29% of male office workers feel that ChatGPT might take away their jobs. 

Top reasons that employees feel ChatGPT might take away their jobs:

1. 'Decreased demand for my job' (43%)
2. 'Fear that my skills and experience will become worthless' (40%) 
3. 'Worried that personalised services and relationships will become less important' (25%)
   
   

• Measures to take to prevent job loss: 

1. 'Decreased demand for my job' (43%)
2. 'Fear that my skills and experience will become worthless' (40%) 
3. 'Worried that personalised services and relationships will become less important' (25%)

Top skills respondents found worthwhile to learn

• Top hard skill: 'data analysis and business intelligence' (22%) 
• Top soft skill: 'leadership and team management' (16%)

Reasons why ChatGPT will not make employees lose their jobs: 

1. 'Scope of work in job description is separate from ChatGPT' (42%) 
2. 'Tasks are beyond the capabilities of ChatGPT' (36%) 
3. 'Own creativity and flexibility have a value that cannot be replaced' (34%) 

Moving Forward with ChatGPT
Impact of ChatGPT expected by employees:

• Around 70% of company employees suggest that the emergence of ChatGPT will change their work and create new job opportunities for them.
• Types of jobs that company employees expect to decrease dramatically since ChatGPT became available:

1. 'Translator/Interpreter' (54%) 
2. 'Customer support representatives' (38%) 
3. 'Data entry supervisor' (36%)