Design jobs 📈 and writing jobs 📉 since genAI launched

7 April 2024 | Issue #42

In this issue:

Data shows AI ISN'T taking your jobs
Rand Fishkin is willing to bet $5000 this is true
I helped write a book

A recent comprehensive analysis of over 5 million freelancing jobs has shed some light on the issue of AI taking jobs away from people. It reveals trends that are reassuring for creative professionals.

The 3 categories with the largest declines were writing, translation and customer service jobs. The number of writing jobs declined 33%, translation jobs declined 19%, and customer service jobs declined 16%.

Since ChatGPT was released, video editing/production jobs are up 39%, graphic design jobs are up 8%, and web design jobs are up 10%. Software development jobs are also up with backend development jobs up 6% and frontend/web development jobs up 4%.

The data indicates that while certain tasks are increasingly being automated, the demand for human creativity and strategic insight remains robust. Specifically, jobs that require a deep understanding of human emotions, cultural nuances, and brand identity are less likely to be replaced by AI. This suggests that the unique human touch, the ability to empathize with an audience and craft messages that resonate on a personal level, cannot be easily replicated by algorithms.

However, the research also highlights a shift towards roles that integrate AI tools into the creative process, pointing towards a future where designers and marketers work alongside AI to enhance productivity and innovation. For instance, tasks related to data analysis and optimization are seeing an uptick in automation, encouraging professionals to adapt by developing skills in managing and collaborating with AI technologies.

This evolution in the job market underscores the importance of lifelong learning and flexibility. Creatives and marketers need to embrace AI as a partner rather than a threat.

By leveraging AI to handle repetitive tasks, we can free up more time for strategic thinking and creative exploration, areas where our human expertise truly shines. For those navigating the intersection of AI and creative work, this new data shows how to future-proof their careers in a rapidly changing landscape.

Dive more into the positive data trends over on Bloomberry.

Marketing expert Rand Fishkin proclaimed that AI's impact on creative roles will not be as serious as everyone is predicting.

H/T to Aaron Hassen for letting me know about this post

Rand knows a thing or two because he's seen a thing or two. The fact that he's willing to put money behind this prediction shows how strongly he believes this.

As much as I appreciated Rand's position, the comments are where the true gold lies. Many people said we can't look at history to determine our future with AI because the AI technology is improving at a scale we've never seen.

Nothing else I write this week will compare to the comments of this post. Go check it out to see both sides of the "AI will take my job" argument. I promise it's worth your time.

I disagree with Rand's position, but I don't have real data to back it up. My POV has been informed by multiple layoffs when I was a designer.

I helped write a book!

I recently partnered with Joe Pulizzi and 31 other marketers to write a book that outlines what a Content Entrepreneur needs to know to get started in their business.

I wrote the chapter on Branding!

If you're interested in an advanced reader copy in exchange for a testimonial, hit reply!

If you want to learn more about the book, check out TheContentEntrepreneur.com