AI job risk in New Zealand
Generative AI exposure is measured on a 0–10 scale that captures how much a job's core tasks overlap with the capabilities of current generative AI systems. Across the 530 occupations analysed, covering 3,058,070 workers in New Zealand, the weighted-average exposure score is 5.4. This places the national workforce slightly above the midpoint of the scale, indicating that many roles have a moderate to high potential for AI-driven task transformation. Importantly, the exposure score is not a prediction of job loss; rather, it signals where AI is likely to reshape tasks first, potentially increasing productivity or shifting work activities rather than eliminating employment entirely.
Occupations with the highest exposure scores tend to involve routine information processing, clerical tasks, and language-based work. Examples include General Clerk, Payroll Clerk, and Money Market Clerk (all 10/10), as well as Sales Assistant (General), Public Servant, Software Engineer, and Receptionist (9/10). These roles are concentrated in industries with the highest average exposure, such as IT & Digital (8.3/10), Government & Public Sector (8.1/10), and Business, Finance & Legal (7.8/10). In contrast, the least exposed jobs are physically demanding, manual, or context-dependent roles like Meat Process Worker (0/10), Builder's Labourer (1/10), Forklift Driver (1/10), and Concreter (1/10). These occupations involve tasks that are harder for current AI to automate, such as handling variable physical environments, fine motor skills, or direct human interaction in unstructured settings.
20 jobs most exposed to AI in New Zealand
| # | Occupation | Code | Exposure | Average annual pay | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Clerk | 532111 | 10/10 | $72,176 | 50,000 |
| 2 | Payroll Clerk | 551112 | 10/10 | $72,176 | 7,500 |
| 3 | Money Market Clerk | 552313 | 10/10 | $72,176 | 800 |
| 4 | NDIS Plan Manager | 551113 | 10/10 | $72,176 | 500 |
| 5 | Sales Assistant (General) | 621111 | 9/10 | $52,000 | 150,000 |
| 6 | Public Servant / Government Administration Officer | 531112 | 9/10 | $72,176 | 66,000 |
| 7 | Software Engineer | 261312 | 9/10 | $99,840 | 35,000 |
| 8 | Receptionist | 542111 | 9/10 | $72,176 | 15,000 |
| 9 | Management Consultant | 225113 | 9/10 | $99,840 | 12,000 |
| 10 | Bank Worker | 552111 | 9/10 | $72,176 | 8,000 |
| 11 | Government Customer Service Officer | 541112 | 9/10 | $72,176 | 8,000 |
| 12 | Web Developer | 261212 | 9/10 | $99,840 | 6,500 |
| 13 | Financial Adviser | 222313 | 9/10 | $99,840 | 5,000 |
| 14 | Finance Broker | 222311 | 9/10 | $99,840 | 4,800 |
| 15 | Legal Secretary | 599411 | 9/10 | $72,176 | 4,500 |
| 16 | Advertising Specialist | 225111 | 9/10 | $99,840 | 4,500 |
| 17 | ICT Business Analyst | 262111 | 9/10 | $99,840 | 4,500 |
| 18 | Financial Investment Advisers and Managers nec | 222299 | 9/10 | $99,840 | 3,500 |
| 19 | Credit and Loans Officer | 552112 | 9/10 | $72,176 | 3,500 |
| 20 | Tourist Information Officer | 451611 | 9/10 | $55,744 | 3,500 |
20 jobs least exposed to AI in New Zealand
| # | Occupation | Code | Exposure | Average annual pay | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meat Process Worker | 362111 | 0/10 | $74,204 | 12,000 |
| 2 | Builder's Labourer | 821111 | 1/10 | $52,000 | 35,000 |
| 3 | Meat Process Worker | 831311 | 1/10 | $52,000 | 35,000 |
| 4 | Forklift Driver | 721311 | 1/10 | $71,812 | 18,000 |
| 5 | Kitchenhand | 851311 | 1/10 | $52,000 | 15,000 |
| 6 | Painter and Decorator | 332211 | 1/10 | $74,204 | 10,000 |
| 7 | Concreter | 821211 | 1/10 | $52,000 | 9,500 |
| 8 | Earthmoving Plant Operator | 721211 | 1/10 | $71,812 | 8,500 |
| 9 | Bricklayer | 331111 | 1/10 | $74,204 | 5,000 |
| 10 | Steel Fixer | 821713 | 1/10 | $52,000 | 4,500 |
| 11 | Plasterer | 333211 | 1/10 | $74,204 | 4,500 |
| 12 | Metal Engineering Process Worker | 839111 | 1/10 | $52,000 | 4,500 |
| 13 | Water Treatment Operator | 712914 | 1/10 | $71,812 | 4,000 |
| 14 | Sheetmetal Trades Worker | 322211 | 1/10 | $74,204 | 3,500 |
| 15 | Motor Vehicle Body Painter | 324211 | 1/10 | $74,204 | 3,500 |
| 16 | Stonemason | 331112 | 1/10 | $74,204 | 3,500 |
| 17 | Fencer | 821311 | 1/10 | $52,000 | 3,500 |
| 18 | Meat Boner and Slicer | 831211 | 1/10 | $52,000 | 3,500 |
| 19 | Panel Beater | 324111 | 1/10 | $74,204 | 3,200 |
| 20 | Seafood Process Worker | 831313 | 1/10 | $52,000 | 3,000 |
AI exposure by industry
| Industry | Occupations | Employed | Avg. exposure |
|---|---|---|---|
| IT & Digital | 33 | 142,600 | 8/10 |
| Government & Public Sector | 25 | 122,920 | 8/10 |
| Business, Finance & Legal | 64 | 462,170 | 8/10 |
| Engineering & Infrastructure | 48 | 175,600 | 6/10 |
| Hospitality, Retail & Tourism | 32 | 517,500 | 6/10 |
| Education & Community | 36 | 262,850 | 6/10 |
| Creative, Media & Personal Services | 48 | 149,280 | 5/10 |
| Healthcare & Care | 68 | 357,200 | 5/10 |
| Transport, Logistics & Mining | 40 | 165,550 | 3/10 |
| Agriculture & Environment | 48 | 229,550 | 3/10 |
| Trades & Construction | 88 | 472,850 | 2/10 |
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Frequently asked questions
How much AI risk do jobs in New Zealand face?
Across 530 occupations covering about 3,058,070 workers, New Zealand has an employment-weighted average generative-AI exposure of 5.4 on a 0–10 scale — an elevated level. A higher score means a larger share of a role's day-to-day tasks can already be performed or assisted by AI.
Which jobs in New Zealand are most at risk from AI?
The most exposed occupations in New Zealand are General Clerk, Payroll Clerk, Money Market Clerk, NDIS Plan Manager, Sales Assistant (General). These are roles built around routine information work — writing, data handling and analysis — that large language models already handle well.
Which jobs in New Zealand are least exposed to AI?
The least exposed occupations include Meat Process Worker, Builder's Labourer, Meat Process Worker. Physical, hands-on and in-person tasks are much harder for current AI to automate, so these roles score low.
Does a high AI exposure score mean the job will be lost?
No. Exposure measures how much of a role's tasks AI can perform or assist with — not whether the job will disappear. A high score flags where AI is most likely to reshape tasks first, and where workers may benefit from building complementary skills.
Which industries in New Zealand are most exposed to AI?
By employment-weighted average exposure, the most exposed industries in New Zealand are IT & Digital, Government & Public Sector, Business, Finance & Legal.
How is the AI exposure score calculated?
Every occupation is scored 0–10 by combining two published research datasets — the ILO's Working Paper 140 index and OpenAI's ‘GPTs are GPTs’ task-exposure study — mapped onto New Zealand's official occupation classification and ranked on a single global percentile scale so scores stay comparable between countries.
Methodology & sources
Every occupation is scored 0–10 for generative-AI exposure by combining two open, published research datasets — the ILO's Working Paper 140 index and OpenAI's GPTs are GPTs task-exposure study — mapped onto New Zealand's official occupation classification, then ranked on a single global percentile scale so the numbers stay comparable between countries. Tile area is the size of each occupation's workforce, from official statistics. Full methodology & data sources →
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