London has the highest concentration of jobs exposed to generative artificial intelligence of any region across 34 countries, according to new OECD research, placing employers in the capital at the forefront of one of the biggest workplace changes in decades.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development found that more than three-quarters of employment in Greater London is in occupations where generative AI could automate or augment more than half of the tasks involved. The capital ranked ahead of every other region included in the organisation’s latest international analysis published this week.
The report said London’s position reflects its concentration of industries such as finance, information technology and education, together with a workforce heavily focused on cognitive and non-routine tasks that are particularly suited to generative AI tools including ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude.
Other highly exposed regions included Prague in Czechia and Zurich in Switzerland, while exposure was much lower in regions with larger manufacturing or agricultural workforces. Overall, the share of workers in highly exposed occupations ranged from about 16 percent in Guerrero, Mexico, to 77 percent in Greater London.
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The OECD stressed that AI exposure should not be confused with jobs disappearing. “AI adoption has not yet resulted in widespread job loss but instead is associated with productivity gains and employment growth in high-exposure occupations,” it said.
But the OECD said there are early signs that younger workers may be more vulnerable. It found that employment among younger, early-career workers in occupations most exposed to generative AI has declined relative to less-exposed roles, raising questions about how AI could reshape entry-level recruitment and career development.
London at the centre of AI adoption
Across the OECD, the proportion of workers employed in highly exposed occupations ranges from around 16 percent in some regions to more than 70 percent in others, reflecting differences in local economies and occupational structures.
Regions dominated by professional services, finance, technology and knowledge-intensive industries generally recorded the highest levels of exposure, while those with larger shares of manufacturing, agriculture or manual occupations tended to rank lower. For employers in London, it reinforces the scale of the challenge facing HR teams as organisations integrate AI into day-to-day operations.
Rather than planning for wholesale workforce reductions, experts say employers are more likely to need strategies focused on redesigning jobs, reskilling existing employees and ensuring workers can use AI effectively alongside human expertise.
The OECD has consistently argued that investment in skills will play a central role in determining whether AI delivers productivity gains or widens inequalities across labour markets.
Preparing the workforce
The research adds to a growing debate over how organisations support early-career employees.
Many graduate and junior roles traditionally involve routine analytical and administrative work that generative AI can now complete much more quickly. While that may improve efficiency, it also raises questions about how new employees will gain the experience needed to progress into more senior positions.
The UK government has previously cited International Monetary Fund research suggesting around 70 percent of UK workers are employed in occupations that have tasks that AI could perform or enhance, reflecting the country’s service-led economy.
The OECD said the focus for employers should not be on whether jobs are exposed to AI, but on how organisations adapt. Those that invest in workforce skills, redesign roles thoughtfully and use AI to complement rather than replace employees are likely to be better placed to benefit from the technology while maintaining productivity and workforce engagement.
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
