Blue OR White? Synthesizing Prediction of the Changing Economic Landscape

• In Event: Organizations, Occupations, and Work Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Table 1: Artificial Intelligence and Work

Abstract

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping work, raising questions about job displacement, task restructuring, and the future value of human labor. This study examines how AI experts and scholars predict the impact of AI on occupational sectors, focusing on white-collar and blue-collar work. Using qualitative content analysis of scholarly articles, reports, and public statements from leaders at Google DeepMind, OpenAI, Microsoft, and Nvidia, the study identifies patterns in expert discourse on task automation, augmentation, and workforce resilience. Findings show that AI primarily affects routine cognitive and administrative tasks common in white-collar roles, while jobs requiring judgment, adaptability, and hands-on problem-solving especially in skilled trades remain more resilient. The analysis is framed through Symbolic Interactionism, Technological Determinism, and the Social Shaping of Technology, highlighting how meanings, social choices, and institutional contexts shape predictions about “future-proof” work. The paper illuminates both opportunities and challenges for workers across sectors in an AI-driven economy.

Author

• Micheal Oboh, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee