The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland published an Economic Commentary examining how the adoption of information technologies between 1980 and 2015 affected clerical workers, finding the most negative impacts were concentrated in large metropolitan areas. The research also finds that smaller US areas adopted new technologies more slowly, which increased their share of workers in jobs performing traditional clerical tasks. The authors conclude that continuing declines in technology costs and advances in artificial intelligence could have a particularly negative impact on clerical workers in smaller areas.
Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland 2025-03-25
Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland research finds information technology adoption disproportionately displaced clerical workers in big cities
The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland's Economic Commentary analyzes the impact of information technology adoption on clerical workers from 1980 to 2015, noting significant negative effects in large metropolitan areas. Smaller US areas, slower in adopting new technologies, saw an increased share of traditional clerical jobs. The study suggests ongoing technology cost reductions and AI advancements may further negatively affect clerical workers in smaller regions.