How AI will change Charlotte’s job

You’re reading The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter containing local business news and insights from Charlotte, North Carolina.

Today’s Charlotte Leisure sponsor is PBS Charlotte. Wondering what politicians are thinking but not saying? Watch former Gov. Pat McCrory give you the spin-free answers on PBS Charlotte Fridays at 8 p.m. Stream on demand anytime wtvi.org/unspun.

In February, LPL Financial Fort Mill Corporation announced it would lay off 300 of its 10,000 employees nationwide.Streamlining opportunities”

Also that month, Charlotte-based lending tree 24 workers firedBecause they shifted their investments to new AI tools.

Charlotte’s major banks bank of america and wells fargohas touted efficiency and artificial intelligence in reducing its workforce, primarily through downsizing.

And in the Charlotte region and across the country, companies large and small are grappling with how AI will reshape their industries. If you ask anyone what the big trend is in their work, chances are they’ll say “AI.”

For businesses, AI can be a transformative technology, offering a more efficient way to work.

And workers, many of whom are quickly becoming accustomed to new concepts like “prompts” and “hallucinations,” are worried about what that means for their jobs and future careers.

Against this backdrop, Charlotte Ledger is taking a closer look at the impact of AI this week in a series called ‘AI at Work’. Our reporters speak to people on the front lines of change to explain where we are and where we think things are headed. Drawing on data, expert insights and local anecdotes, we aim to help you understand this important and complex topic and offer advice on how to adapt to the changing realities of work.

Like most cities, Charlotte has a lot at stake. If there’s a big disruption, chances are you’ll get an office job…which Charlotte has plenty of.

Charlotte has grown to be more than just a banking center, with total employment of more than 1.4 million people, but there are still approximately 127,000 financial jobs in the region. There are also 236,000 in a category known as business and professional services, which includes law, accounting, architecture, and other industries, and 70,000 in technology.

The top sectors listed as most vulnerable spanned a variety of white-collar jobs, particularly in technology, including computer programmers, web designers, and web developers. Number one most at risk was “writers and authors” (gulp).

Those most at risk are roof bolters, miners, excavation equipment operators, and security guards.

The study predicts that the Charlotte region will experience the greatest job losses in the following areas:

Of course, this is just one of many predictions about the impact of AI. Trends are difficult to predict in real time. Some economists point out that other disruptive technologies that have sparked fears of job losses, such as the rise of the Internet and the Industrial Revolution, did not cause widespread unemployment. Instead, the nature of work has changed and new jobs have been created to replace those lost.

At a lecture held in January, charlotte economic club, Laura Dawson UlrichJob hunting site economic research director surelysaid the data suggests there is little evidence that AI is doing all the work today. Instead, she said, companies are spending more on AI and technology and hiring fewer people than usual while trying to make their employees more productive.

“We don’t see much evidence in our data that AI itself is taking over and doing a lot of the work,” she said. “Instead, what we’re seeing is a shift in corporate investment away from labor and into capital – technology and AI. So the shift to spending on AI is also driving a major shift in the labor market.”

This week in The Charlotte Ledger, we’re looking at some of these changes to help you understand what’s happening and where it’s going.

◼️ today: Jobs at risk: Whose jobs are most at risk and what’s going on in Charlotte?
◼️ Tuesday: Entry-level squeeze: Young workers face a tough job market and think AI may be to blame
◼️ Wednesday: Backlash: A wary public questions trust and jobs as companies rush to AI
◼️ Thursday: Blue-collar boom: As AI threatens office jobs, more workers are turning to high-demand, less automated industries.
◼️ Friday: Surviving the AI ​​era: Experts say workers who adapt early and rely on human skills will have an advantage

I should probably add that this entire series, written entirely by humans, is only available to paying members of the Charlotte Ledger.

The regular version of “Charlotte Ledger” returns next week.

I would like to hear your opinions. How is AI currently being utilized in your work? Do you use it? Or are you feeling the impact, big or small? Share your experience with us and help us cover how AI is changing work in Charlotte. (Please send an email to [email protected])

Events posted by readers on The Ledger’s event board:

Thursday: “Artist talk with Kim Mpangirai: Cross-cultural identity, heritage, and form”, 6-7:30 p.m., at the Mint Museum Randolph, 2730 Randolph Road. Kim Mpangirai is a New York-based sculptural furniture designer and educator who teaches at Parsons School of Design. Mpangirai talks about how cross-cultural identity and traditions are expressed in her furniture and material designs. free.

Saturday: “Mecklenburg County Master Gardener Plant Sale9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mecklenburg County Extension Office, 2415 Lester St. Shop for perennials, annuals, vegetables, and native plants to complete your spring garden. Visit seven continuing education booths covering topics such as sharpening garden tools, creating a bee hotel, growing tomatoes, and creating pesticide-free mosquito repellent. This is a fundraiser and all proceeds will go toward funding environmentally sustainable horticulture education. It’s free.

April 12th: “Strangers on a Train” – Movie and Talkback3-5:15 p.m., at Independent Picture House, 4237 Lowry Street. A charming psychopath tries to force a theory on a tennis star that two strangers can commit the perfect crime by exchanging murders. Each kills the person the other hates the most. Join Independent Picture House for a screening and post-film discussion with series co-curator Sam Shapiro, who taught Hitchcock film courses at UNC Charlotte for 30 years. $9.75 per ticket.

April 21st: “customer discovery lab,” 5:30-8:30 pm Customer Discovery Lab is a six-week cohort program that helps early-stage founders validate ideas, test hypotheses, and build business models rooted in real customer needs. This program is made possible through a grant from the NC IDEA Foundation. It’s free.

April 28th: “Webinar to prepare for university admissionvirtual Zoom webinar from 12:00pm to 1:00pm. Join Charlotte Leisure. An expert-led webinar designed to provide families with clear, practical guidance on what matters most in today’s college admissions landscape. Two experienced college application consultants share important steps students can take now, from building meaningful activities to shaping a powerful application story. free.