Data Monitor

The US has the highest services-sector share of any major economy (79%). Retail, food service, clerical, and admin roles employ tens of millions of workers — and these routine, rules-based jobs are overwhelmingly classified RED. Meanwhile, healthcare, skilled trades, and education keep roughly 40% of workers in the GREEN zone.

The UK’s services sector (83%) is the largest of any economy we track, but its composition differs from the US — a stronger NHS and public-sector healthcare workforce provides GREEN protection. Financial services, retail, and public-sector admin still drive significant RED exposure at levels comparable to (though slightly below) the US.

Europe’s lower services share (73%) and stronger manufacturing base shift more workers into YELLOW — roles that will be augmented rather than replaced. Countries like Germany and Italy retain significant industrial employment. Agriculture (3.3%) and traditional trades also contribute to a broader GREEN base.

Germany’s industrial strength — 26% of employment vs. 19% in the US — is the key differentiator. Manufacturing, engineering, and skilled trades roles sit mostly in YELLOW and GREEN. However, Germany’s large admin and financial-services sector still generates significant RED exposure.

Japan has the smallest RED zone among major economies. Its unique combination of a large manufacturing sector (23%), strong robotics industry, and cultural emphasis on job retention means more workers sit in GREEN and YELLOW.

Canada closely mirrors the US pattern — a large services sector (80%) creates similar RED exposure through retail, admin, and customer-service roles. Strong natural-resources and healthcare sectors provide GREEN protection.

Australia’s economy is structurally similar to Canada and the US, with a dominant services sector (78%). Mining and natural resources provide some GREEN insulation, but the large retail, hospitality, and financial-services workforce drives RED percentages comparable to the UK.

South Korea’s significant manufacturing sector (24%) — especially electronics, automotive, and shipbuilding — places more workers in the YELLOW adaptation zone. Higher agriculture (5.2%) compared to other advanced economies adds a small GREEN buffer.

The global average has a larger GREEN zone and significantly smaller RED zone than advanced economies. Agriculture employs 26% of the world’s workers in roles with physical and environmental complexity that resists near-term automation. Lower-income economies have less services-sector employment, which substantially reduces RED exposure — consistent with IMF estimates that low-income countries face roughly half the AI displacement risk of advanced economies.