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Task Expansion with Generative AI: Experimental Evidence on Middle-Skilled, Early-Career Workers

Author

Listed:
  • Hanna Brosch
  • Christina Langer

  • Philipp Lergetporer
  • Sandra Mueller
  • Harald Pfeifer
  • Nele Tschoepe

Abstract

Does generative artificial intelligence (AI) expand the set of tasks that middle-skilled, early-career workers can successfully perform? In a field experiment with 673 final-year IT apprentices at twelve German vocational schools, we randomly assign access to AI for completing occupation-specific tasks. To identify task expansion, we study tasks both within the apprenticeship curriculum and deliberately beyond it. AI raises productivity substantially across all task types, with gains tending to be larger on tasks where performance without AI is lowest. Crucially, productivity increases by 26–31 percentage points on tasks beyond apprentices’ formal training, providing direct evidence of AI-enabled task expansion. These productivity gains do not come at the cost of reduced immediate task comprehension. Treatment effects are generally larger among apprentices with above-median AI literacy.

Suggested Citation

  • Hanna Brosch & Christina Langer & Philipp Lergetporer & Sandra Mueller & Harald Pfeifer & Nele Tschoepe, 2026. "Task Expansion with Generative AI: Experimental Evidence on Middle-Skilled, Early-Career Workers," CESifo Working Paper Series 13045, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_13045
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    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education

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