Jobs are safe from AI for now, but roles are changing rapidly

The shift is nevertheless being felt across the labour market. Repetitive tasks are increasingly being automated, while employers are placing greater value on people who understand how to use AI tools effectively.

AI is changing jobs rather than eliminating them

Growing public concern about artificial intelligence has centred on the possibility that large numbers of jobs could disappear. However, Pnet’s vacancy advertising data does not currently show AI-driven headcount reduction as a major trend in South Africa.

Anja Bates, a Pnet spokesperson, said the more immediate effect was likely to be a change in the way jobs were performed and in the skills required to do them.

“Our vacancy advertising data does not suggest that AI-driven headcount reduction is a major trend,” Bates said.

For many employers, the technology is being used to support workers rather than remove them. This is particularly relevant in a labour market where unemployment remains high, but businesses continue to experience shortages of specialist skills.

Artificial intelligence could help companies supplement scarce expertise, while allowing workers with limited specialist training to extend the work they can do. Smaller businesses could also gain access to capabilities that might previously have been too expensive.

Routine administration is already being affected

Although entire occupations have not disappeared, some duties within those occupations are changing quickly. Bates used the role of a personal assistant as an example of how a familiar job can look different from just a few years ago.

AI tools can help with meeting notes, summaries of discussions, routine emails, diary management and the preparation of presentations. These functions can reduce the amount of repetitive administration handled by a personal assistant.

The role itself remains, but its focus may shift towards coordination, judgement and human relationships. In this sense, AI is taking on selected tasks while leaving the worker to concentrate on responsibilities that require communication and interaction.

Some roles that rely heavily on repetitive processing may face greater pressure in the short to medium term. Pnet reported a downward trend in available data-capture positions as artificial intelligence becomes capable of automating much of that work.

Other potentially vulnerable areas include administrative clerical work, data entry, first-line customer service, telemarketing, payroll clerical duties and some insurance back-office functions.

Demand for AI skills is rising

The changing pattern is also visible in job advertisements. Pnet’s August 2025 Market Trends Report found that demand for AI-related skills in advertised jobs had increased by 79% over three years.

The increase was even more pronounced over a longer period, with demand rising by 352% since 2019. During the first half of 2025, vacancies requiring AI-related skills were up by 77% compared with the same period a year earlier.

Employers are looking for technology specialists with skills in machine learning, natural language processing, AI-tool development and chatbot development. Experience with tools such as ChatGPT, Dext and Zapier is also appearing in job requirements.

That trend suggests that familiarity with artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly useful part of professional development. Workers may not need to become AI specialists to benefit, but understanding how these tools work and where they can be applied could help them remain competitive.

Public fears remain stronger than the current evidence

The employment debate is taking place against a backdrop of widespread concern about AI’s long-term impact. A Pew Research Centre study found that people in most of the countries surveyed were more likely to believe artificial intelligence would destroy jobs than create them.

In 34 of the 37 countries included in the research, respondents were more likely to expect AI to result in fewer jobs over the next 20 years.

South Africa was included in the survey. There, 44% of people feared that AI would lead to fewer jobs, while the majority did not expect the technology to replace their function.

The contrast between public expectations and current recruitment data highlights the uncertainty surrounding the technology. AI may have the capacity to alter many occupations over time, but the available South African vacancy data does not indicate that widespread displacement has already taken place.

Skills will determine how workers adapt

South Africa’s employment environment makes the transition particularly complex. The country is dealing with sustained high unemployment while also facing shortages of specialist skills in fields including engineering, management, finance and technology.

That combination means artificial intelligence could have different effects across different parts of the labour market. In some areas, it may reduce the need for repetitive work. In others, it may allow existing employees to handle more demanding tasks or help companies address gaps in expertise.

New opportunities could also develop around AI implementation, data, digital services and oversight. These roles would support the introduction and responsible use of the technology rather than simply involve producing traditional administrative output.

For workers, the changing landscape makes ongoing learning more important. The immediate message from the recruitment data is not that every job is about to disappear, but that the duties attached to many jobs may continue to evolve.

Workers who build AI-related skills and learn how to combine technology with human judgement, communication and coordination may be better positioned as employers adjust their expectations.

As Bates put it, the response should be to embrace opportunities to learn new skills and competencies rather than focus only on the fear of replacement.