(from the left) Professor Shin Jongkook, Jung Yonghoon, Lee Sunghoon

 

 

Professors Lee Sunghoon, Jung Yonghoon, and Shin Jongkook from the Faculty of Economics and Statistics at Korea University Sejong Campus, affiliated with the Social Science Korea (SSK) Research Project, have jointly published a research paper in The Korean Economic Review (KER), the official English-language journal of the Korean Economic Association.

 

The paper, titled "The Impact of Generative Artificial Intelligence on the Labor Market," investigates the effects of rapidly evolving artificial intelligence (AI) technologies on industrial sites and employment structures.

 

In particular, the study highlights the possibility that highly skilled workers in high-wage, capital-intensive industries may be the first to be replaced—challenging the conventional view that low-skilled workers are typically replaced before high-skilled ones.

 

According to the research, the automation of tasks previously performed by highly skilled professionals using generative AI tools such as GPT is becoming increasingly prominent. This trend may contribute to a decline in wages for high-skilled labor.

 

The study also points to recent trends in the information technology (IT) sector, where clear signs of employment contraction have emerged. According to JobKorea, the number of job postings for developers in the first half of 2023 decreased by nearly half compared to average years. In the United States, as of August 2024, the unemployment rate in the IT sector stood at 6%, exceeding the national average of 4.2%.

 

Through this research, Korea University Sejong Campus offers new insights into labor market shifts in the era of generative AI. The findings are expected to serve as valuable reference material for the development of relevant policies and strategic responses in the future.

 

KU Sejong Student PR Team, KUS-ON

Translator: Chang Jeoungeun