Automation risk identifies jobs where a significant portion of tasks could potentially be replaced by new technologies. The Automation risk indicator provides current and future estimates of this risk across sectors and occupations. Existing research (e.g., Pouliakas, 2018) has highlighted several factors that define the most exposed occupations. These include tasks that are easily automated—such as operating specialised technical equipment, performing routine or non-autonomous tasks—and those requiring minimal reliance on communication, collaboration, critical thinking, or customer service skills.

This indicator uses measures of task displacement, based on the second wave of the Cedefop European Skills and Jobs Survey (ESJS2). In combination with the Skills forecast employment projections, the indicator shows the number of individuals who may face task displacement due to the introduction of new technologies in their work. Additionally, it considers individuals whose tasks could be altered by the need to learn new computer programs or software for their main job.