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arXiv · 2504.06322

Assessing employment and labour issues implicated by using AI

Thijs Willems·Darion Jin Hotan·Jiawen Cheryl Tang·Norakmal Hakim bin Norhashim·King Wang Poon·Zi An Galvyn Goh·Radha Vinod
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Abstract

This chapter critiques the dominant reductionist approach in AI and work studies, which isolates tasks and skills as replaceable components. Instead, it advocates for a systemic perspective that emphasizes the interdependence of tasks, roles, and workplace contexts. Two complementary approaches are proposed: an ethnographic, context-rich method that highlights how AI reconfigures work environments and expertise; and a relational task-based analysis that bridges micro-level work descriptions with macro-level labor trends. The authors argue that effective AI impact assessments must go beyond predicting automation rates to include ethical, well-being, and expertise-related questions. Drawing on empirical case studies, they demonstrate how AI reshapes human-technology relations, professional roles, and tacit knowledge practices. The chapter concludes by calling for a human-centric, holistic framework that guides organizational and policy decisions, balancing technological possibilities with social desirability and sustainability of work.

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Thijs Willems, Darion Jin Hotan, Jiawen Cheryl Tang, Norakmal Hakim bin Norhashim, King Wang Poon, Zi An Galvyn Goh, Radha Vinod. 2025-04-08. Assessing employment and labour issues implicated by using AI. https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.06322

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