At least two million jobs across London could be at risk from artificial intelligence, with a new analysis saying that a significant share of the capital’s workforce is exposed to automation.
The warning comes from research by the Greater London Authority, the body responsible for city-wide governance led by the Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan, which found that around one in five roles face high or significant exposure to AI.
The report said administrative and clerical jobs are among the most vulnerable, with more than 300,000 roles at highest risk due to the nature of tasks that closely match generative AI capabilities.
A further 748,000 roles in areas such as IT, data analysis and secretarial work are also exposed, although the level of risk varies depending on specific tasks.
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London workforce faces ‘widespread exposure’
The analysis found that 46 percent of London’s workforce, equivalent to around 2.4 million people, are in roles where AI could automate at least part of their work. Technology such as the popular ChatGPT chatbot from OpenAI is “capable of performing a large share of their day-to-day work” while around 350,000 workers are in jobs that are “highly automatable by AI”, the report said.
But it cautioned that even jobs considered less exposed are unlikely to remain untouched. More than half of workers are in roles with limited overlap with current AI capabilities, yet this does not mean they will avoid disruption altogether.
Across the UK, the average level of exposure stands at 38 percent, suggesting London’s labour market is particularly sensitive to the rise of AI.
Women, younger workers and those with higher levels of education are among those most affected, reflecting their concentration in roles that involve administrative, analytical and communication-based tasks.
Roles such as brokers, web designers, sales staff and journalists were identified as vulnerable, while jobs including architects, barbers, chefs and driving instructors were found to be less exposed.
Mayor warns against ‘hands-off’ approach
Speaking at a conference on cities in Madrid on Tuesday, Sir Sadiq warned that failing to manage the transition could damage the capital’s jobs market. He said a passive approach to the technology risked harming employment, but stressed that exposure does not automatically mean job losses.
“I want to be clear that a high degree of exposure to AI does not necessarily mean job losses,” he said. “Our research indicates there’s every chance that AI will augment and assist the Londoners working in these roles, rather than eliminating their jobs completely.”
He added that the scale of potential disruption meant policymakers and employers could not ignore the risks.
“But given the numbers of Londoners that are exposed – and the finding that 7% of large UK businesses have already used AI to cut staff – we cannot afford to be complacent,” he said.
Growing pressure on young workers
Concerns about AI’s impact on employment are already emerging beyond London.
Former chancellor Rishi Sunak, now working with technology firms including Anthropic and Microsoft, recently warned that AI is beginning to reshape opportunities for younger workers. He said the technology was slashing entry-level job prospects, particularly in sectors such as law, accountancy and the creative industries.
The Greater London Authority report adds to growing evidence that while AI may boost productivity and reshape roles, it is also likely to intensify competition for certain types of work.
Employers are already beginning to adapt, with some using AI to streamline operations and reduce headcount, raising questions about how quickly the labour market can adjust.
William Furney is a Managing Editor at Black and White Trading Ltd based in Kingston upon Hull, UK. He is a prolific author and contributor at Workplace Wellbeing Professional, with over 127 published posts covering HR, employee engagement, and workplace wellbeing topics. His writing focuses on contemporary employment issues including pension schemes, employee health, financial struggles affecting workers, and broader workplace trends.
- William Furney
- William Furney
- William Furney
- William Furney
