Survey Finds Oregon’s White-Collar Workforce Most Worried About AI Replacing Them

In a survey of 3,034 employees, Oregon Service Reps are the #1 group when it comes to being fearful of being replaced, followed by Graphic Designers, Data Entry Clerks, and other white-collar workers.

Oregon Workers Most Fearful Of Being Replaced By AI

As workers from copywriters to customer service reps, paralegals to financial analysts, workers in traditionally “safe” office jobs have started asking the uncomfortable questions about their long-term career stability.

Unlike past waves of technological disruption, which mainly affected blue-collar industries, it’s now white-collar roles that seem to be in AI’s crosshairs.

Workers used to worry about being replaced by a younger hire, but now they worry about being replaced by AI.

Raymond Lee, President of Careerminds, said, “There’s a quiet existential crisis happening in the cubicles of America.”

In a survey of 3,034 employees by Careerminds, a global outplacement and career development firm, 10 professions in Oregon were identified as most fearful of being replaced by AI.

The infographic shows that the top 10 professions most worried about being replaced by AI in Oregon are:

#1. Customer Service Reps

#2. Graphic Designers

#3. Data Entry Clerks

#4. Video Editors

#5. Technical Support Agents

#6. Social Media Managers

#7. Business Intelligence Analysts

#8. Software QA Testers

#9. Financial Analysts

#10. Receptionists

In responding to the question, “How would you feel if AI could do your entire job tomorrow?”  people are torn between dread and daydream:

• Fear at 38% was the most common response. Workers said they’d feel scared – not just about losing their income, but about what comes next.
• 27% of workers said they’d feel betrayed, as though a line of code had tossed aside their years of hard work.
• On the positive side, 19% said they’d be excited to pursue a passion project finally,
• 17% said they’d be relieved to get some rest.

But what if your employer replaced half your team with AI and gave you a raise- would you be on board? The respondents’ replies were:

• 49% said yes (pragmatism wins).
• 51% said no (loyalty or fear of being next).

Privately, workers seem to suspect the writing’s already on the wall:

• 43% believe AI could already do their job.
• 22% admit they have Googled: “Will AI take my job?”
• 35% say fear of AI has made them question their long-term career plans.

Interestingly, workers secretly hope AI will come for politicians next- they scored 32%, followed by middle management (23%) and HR managers (17%). 16% of people hope it’s the CEO.

The trend could be the wake-up call that many professionals didn’t know they needed. Lee said, “The good news is that anxiety can be a powerful motivator for a career change- whether it leads to retraining, reinvention, or a new career entirely.”