OpenAI’s chief economist sees ‘care economy’ jobs growing in AI age

OpenAI's chief economist, Ronnie Chatterji, predicts that the rise of artificial intelligence will drive significant job growth in the U.S. "care economy," which includes roles like nurses, teachers, and elder care providers [citation:1][citation:5]. Speaking to NBC News, Chatterji argued these jobs, centered on human connection and physical presence, are the least automatable [citation:1]. He suggested that while AI can handle documentation and other cognitive tasks, it cannot replicate the emotional support needed in sensitive situations [citation:1][citation:5]. This forecast aligns with OpenAI's broader industrial policy proposals, which suggest that AI-driven efficiency gains could free up workers to focus on these care-based roles [citation:4][citation:7]. A key challenge, however, is that these "essential" jobs have historically been undervalued and underpaid. To address this, OpenAI has proposed ideas like four-day workweek pilots to ensure the benefits of AI are broadly shared and that demand growth translates into improved job quality [citation:4][citation:7][citation:11]. Chatterji expects the productivity gains from AI to become visible in official statistics within 18 to 24 months [citation:5][citation:12].