The Effect of AI Agents on the Job Market in 2025

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing the world as we know it, and the job market is no exception. One of the most significant ways AI is impacting the job market is through the use of AI agents. AI agents are autonomous intelligent systems that can interact with their environment, make decisions, and take action to achieve specific goals. They can perform tasks such as scheduling meetings, booking travel, and providing customer service, all without human intervention. As AI agents become more sophisticated, they are poised to disrupt the job market in several ways. This article will explore the effect of AI agents in the job market in 2025, examining their potential to create, disrupt, and displace jobs.

AI Agent Adoption Rate in Organizations in 2025

The adoption rate of AI agents in organizations is expected to increase significantly in 2025. According to Deloitte, 25% of enterprises utilizing generative AI will deploy AI agents in 2025. This figure is expected to further rise to 50% by 2027. This rapid adoption is driven by factors such as the increasing affordability and availability of AI technology, the growing awareness of the potential benefits of AI agents, and the increasing availability of AI-powered solutions.

Meanwhile, McKinsey predicts that by 2030, up to 30% of global work activities could be automated. This trend will accelerate in the next few years, owing to the rise in the development and adoption of AI agents. Adding to this, a survey report from PwC suggests that almost 75% of executives would integrate GenAI solutions into their businesses by 2025. It also highlights that industries like finance, manufacturing, and retail will be the first adopters of agentic AI.

This rate of adoption will also lead to significant changes in existing roles. For example, a human employee may no longer handle customer inquiries manually; instead, they might oversee AI systems, train them, and resolve escalated issues. As AI agents become more integrated into business processes, the focus will shift from routine tasks to jobs that require human judgment, emotional intelligence, and strategic thinking.

Large organizations are already experimenting with AI agents. IBM’s Watson, for instance, is being used by healthcare providers like Memorial Sloan Kettering to assist in cancer diagnosis. By 2025, this kind of adoption will become widespread, and companies that fail to integrate AI agents will likely find themselves at a competitive disadvantage.

Also Read: How to Become an Agentic AI Expert in 2025?

How AI Agents will Disrupt the Job Market in 2025?

By now, we all know that AI agents have the potential to disrupt the job market in the near future. Organizations are already integrating AI agents into their workforce to automate tasks, increase efficiency and productivity, and enhance decision-making. When we speak of AI agents in the workforce, it doesn’t necessarily refer to reducing the overall workforce. It’s more about a fundamental shift in the division of labor between humans and machines. While this shift aims to automate certain tasks, it will also require workers to adapt and develop new skills to complement AI agents’ capabilities.

AI agents can streamline business operations, handle large amounts of information, and provide personalized service to customers. In the future, it is predicted that employee time spent on repetitive, low-impact work will be reduced from 41% to under 20%. Additionally, AI agents will free up employees to focus on more strategic, relationship-building work that drives revenue.  

In 2025, AI agents are expected to power more complex real-world systems, changing how we approach automation, safety, and efficiency. This trend has significant implications for various industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, and transportation. As AI agents become more integrated into these systems, they will play a crucial role in optimizing processes and improving outcomes.

The involvement of AI agents in decision-making can lead to improved products and services, as well as more effective strategies across various departments. On the whole, their integration into business processes would streamline operations, reduce costs, and improve service delivery.

However, this technological shift also raises concerns about job displacement and the need for workforce reskilling. Let’s find out what jobs will get impacted by the rise of AI agents in 2025 and what new opportunities it will bring.

Also Read: Top 5 AI Agents to Look Out For in 2025

Jobs That May Get Replaced by AI Agents in 2025

According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs report of 2020, nearly 43% of businesses were planning to reduce their workforce by 2025, due to automation. However, the same report also highlights that AI will create new roles in sectors such as technology, healthcare, and data analysis, helping to offset some of the job losses.

Similarly, a 2023 study by the Brookings Institution states that nearly 25% of US jobs are at risk of being automated within the next decade, with lower-skill roles being the most vulnerable. However, the report notes that AI is unlikely to fully replace these jobs but rather alter how the work is performed. Now with the emergence of AI agents, we can see these changes happening, signaling a future where humans and AI will collaborate to deliver better results.

While AI agents will create new jobs and transform existing ones, they will also displace some roles. A report by SEO.ai highlights that 14% of workers have already experienced job displacement due to AI, suggesting that the impact is becoming increasingly significant. The specific jobs that are most susceptible to automation varies depending on the industry and the nature of the tasks involved.

Jobs that can be Replaced by AI Agents

• Administrative Assistants: AI agents will automate a majority of scheduling, document management, and communication tasks in 2025. AI-powered virtual assistants will handle most of these duties, reducing the demand for administrative roles.
• Customer Service Representatives: Basic customer service inquiries will be handled by AI agents, which can quickly provide answers to frequently asked questions and resolve simple issues without human intervention.
• Data Entry Clerks: AI is already excelling at automating data input tasks. In industries like healthcare and finance, AI agents can accurately input and process vast amounts of data, reducing the need for manual data entry.
• Telemarketers: AI-driven systems are already being used to automate telemarketing calls and surveys. This trend is expected to increase in 2025, as AI agents improve in voice recognition and natural language processing.
• Sales Representatives: AI agents will soon be used to automate sales and marketing tasks, such as lead generation and qualification as well.

The Impact on Creative Professions

Interestingly, creative professions, which were once thought to be immune to automation, might be more susceptible to AI disruption than mechanical jobs. AI agents can now generate content, design graphics, and even compose music. This trend could lead to a decline in demand for in-house creative professionals, with companies increasingly hiring freelancers or using AI tools for specific projects.

New Jobs that will Emerge in 2025 Because of AI Agents

While AI agents may displace some jobs, they will also create new ones. As AI technology evolves, we will see the emergence of positions such as machine-learning specialists and AI maintenance professionals in the near future.

A report from the International Labour Organization (ILO) predicts that jobs in AI system design, data analysis, and AI programming will experience some of the highest growth rates, with a projected increase in demand for workers skilled in AI-related technologies.

A Business Insider report indicates that roles like machine-learning specialists, applications administrators, and solutions architects will be highly sought after, even in non-tech firms that need employees to integrate AI tools into their workflows. Additionally, the integration of AI into business processes will necessitate roles focused on overseeing AI-human collaboration, ensuring ethical AI deployment, and managing AI-driven projects.

Emerging Jobs in 2025

• AI Solutions Architect: These professionals will design and implement AI-driven systems that integrate seamlessly with existing business processes. They will need to possess a deep understanding of both AI technology and the specific needs of the organization.
• AI Agent Trainers: These professionals will be responsible for training AI agents to perform specific tasks. They will ensure the agents have the necessary knowledge and skills to function effectively.
• Human-AI Interaction Specialist: With AI becoming an essential part of customer service and operations, experts will be needed to ensure smooth interaction between humans and AI agents. These experts will particularly be needed in industries such as retail and healthcare.
• AI Explainers: With the growing complexity of AI systems, there is a need for professionals who can explain how AI agents work to non-technical audiences. AI explainers will bridge the gap between technology and understanding, helping people comprehend the capabilities and limitations of AI agents.
• AI Ethicists: As AI agents become more integrated into various aspects of life, ethical considerations become increasingly important. AI ethicists will be responsible for ensuring that AI agents are used ethically and responsibly, considering the potential impact on individuals and society.
• AI Safety Engineers: Ensuring the safety and reliability of AI agents is paramount. AI safety engineers will focus on identifying and mitigating potential risks associated with AI agents. They will ensure that the agents operate within safe boundaries and do not pose a threat to humans or systems.

Also Read: 7 Steps to Build an AI Agent with No Code

The Use of AI Agents in Hiring by HR Team

AI agents are already transforming HR and hiring processes by automating hiring tasks and providing valuable insights. They are being used to streamline recruitment, improve candidate experience, and enhance decision-making in HR.

According to a 2023 report from Gartner, 40% of recruitment will be powered by AI by 2025. AI-driven platforms like HireVue and Pymetrics are already leveraging machine learning to assess candidates’ skills and cognitive abilities. In the years to come, the adoption rate of AI agents into HR departments will only go up.

AI is not about replacing HR professionals, but rather enhancing their capabilities. It allows HR to focus on strategy and employee development while automating time-consuming tasks like scheduling and candidate evaluation

Dave Ulrich, a leading expert in HR.

Here’s what AI Agents can do for your HR Team in 2025

• AI agents can autonomously screen resumes, source candidates, schedule interviews, and even conduct the preliminary rounds. This automation frees up HR professionals to focus on more strategic initiatives, such as talent development and employee engagement.
• They can analyze vast datasets and identify the best candidates for a job by matching their skills and experience with the job requirements. This can help to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the hiring process.
• AI agents can even assess candidates’ cultural fit using sentiment analysis and psychometric evaluations.
• AI agents can help mitigate subconscious hiring bias by applying uniform assessment standards to all applicants. This can help organizations build a more diverse and inclusive workforce.
• They can even be used to create job requisitions, summarize transcripts, generate and send email rejection letters, and create offer packages. This can help talent acquisition teams reduce time-to-hire and enhance the overall candidate experience.  
• AI agents can streamline onboarding and boost employee engagement by delivering personalized support from day one. They can provide real-time answers to common employee queries and offer tailored guidance.
• They can also be used to track employee sentiment, engagement, and performance. They can analyze communication patterns, work habits, and feedback, to help HR departments identify employee issues before they escalate. This way, organizations can build a more proactive approach to talent management.
• AI agents can even support advanced tasks such as pre-employment checks, learning recommendations, onboarding profile creation, and IT request submission.

Despite all these applications and benefits, the growing reliance on AI agents for hiring also raises concerns about bias and fairness. If AI agents are trained on biased data sets, they could perpetuate existing disparities in hiring practices. This highlights the importance of continuous oversight and the development of ethical AI guidelines.

Ethical Considerations in the Integration of AI Agents

The deployment of AI agents in the workplace introduces several ethical challenges that organizations must address. This includes:

• Bias and Discrimination: AI systems can inadvertently perpetuate existing biases present in their training data. This may lead to unfair treatment of certain groups. For instance, AI-driven hiring tools may favour certain demographics over others if not properly audited for bias.
• Privacy Concerns: The use of AI in monitoring employee performance and behaviour raises significant privacy issues. Employees may feel their personal data is being scrutinized without consent, leading to a decrease in morale and trust.
• Accountability and Transparency: Determining responsibility when AI systems make errors is complex. Organizations must therefore ensure transparency in AI decision-making processes to build trust among employees and customers.
• Job Displacement and Economic Impact: The automation of tasks by AI agents can lead to job losses. This raises ethical questions about the societal impact and the responsibility of organizations to support displaced workers.

Conclusion

In 2025, AI agents will be a major force in reshaping the job market and transforming industries. They will create new opportunities while rendering certain jobs obsolete. The adoption of AI will accelerate, with businesses leveraging AI agents for a range of functions, from customer service and HR to data analysis and beyond. While some roles will disappear, new jobs will emerge that require advanced technical skills, a deep understanding of AI ethics, and the ability to manage complex AI systems.

The key to navigating this agentic AI-powered future will be reskilling the workforce. Organizations will soon have to ensure that employees can adapt to new roles and work alongside AI agents. By embracing the potential of AI agents and addressing its challenges, organizations can harness its benefits while mitigating the risks associated with job displacement.

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K.C. Sabreena Basheer

Sabreena Basheer is an architect-turned-writer who's passionate about documenting anything that interests her. She's currently exploring the world of AI and Data Science as a Content Manager at Analytics Vidhya.