Artificial intelligence is moving beyond software engineers to threaten back‑office roles that support firms. Economists warn that tens of millions of middle‑class positions—human‑resources, billing, payroll and customer service—could be automated. Women hold a large share of these jobs, echoing the gender skew of earlier manufacturing losses.

A Northwestern University analysis that weights exposure by overall workforce size places routine clerical jobs at the top of AI risk. Researchers cite secretaries and routine clerks as more vulnerable than data scientists. Pay for roles like medical‑records specialist hovers around $50,000, with over 90% of incumbents women, making the threat both economic and gendered. The speed of AI rollout leaves little time for adjustment.

Policy makers are urged to target assistance at workers who lack the education or mobility to shift sectors. Studies show younger, city‑based employees can more readily retrain, whereas older, lower‑paid clerks face steep displacement costs. Union groups are already lobbying for retraining funds and wage safeguards. Without focused support, AI could erode a key source of middle‑class stability faster than past automation waves.