[heroprotagonist]

This probably depends on how you define "IT". I think for employment type stats the list of categories is fairly wide, and can include almost anything that requires a computer that doesn't fit into other categories (which btw is often used for 'exempt' overtime status to put people in on-call rotations without resulting in an 'engaged to wait' scenario that requires payment for time not spent on a call. because they're "experts in IT related field").

But specifically this is probably mostly driven so far by tech support industries. "IT" being customer service reps who use a computer to respond to chat messages, in some cases.

Or actual tech support that's had its entire entry system stripped and replaced by an AI-guided walkthrough of predefined steps customers are required to take before they talk to a human. This will certainly have impact on the amount of support staff needed, even if a portion of that is simply frustrating customers into searching for answers themselves.

[mjr00]

> Or actual tech support that's had its entire entry system stripped and replaced by an AI-guided walkthrough of predefined steps customers are required to take before they talk to a human.

How much tech support was still in the US though? Outside of small onshore teams, frontline tech support for the major players was already all in India/SEA. You could replace those people with AI, yes, but it wouldn't reflect in US unemployment stats.

[Spooky23]

More than you might think. There are many scenarios where US nationals are the only ones that can touch data.

They are replacing second tier people with people overseas who interact with chatbots and a limited number of staff in the US. So one dude can access customer data, but he’s servicing a dozen agents.

[bobthepanda]

there are also internal IT teams at any corporation handling a decent amount of electronics for internal use. it's possible those are now getting thinned out with AI for the super mundane things like "my phone won't connect to the wi-fi."