By Aarul Malaviya, Founder, Zamit
The advent of AI has been causing a transformational shift across industries all over the world and this has had a direct impact on the employment market. On the one hand, AI automation leads to improvements in the organisation’s efficiency and productivity, but on the other hand, it creates job disposability and thus requires constant skill upgrades and skill development. This evolution calls for employee and employer readiness to proactively respond to the changes to stay ahead of the curve.
Employment: A review of the current status
New jobs for machines and automation can create global economic displacement. In a World Economic Forum report, it is predicted that up to 85 million new jobs could be moved to automation and artificial intelligence technologies by 2025, and at the same time, new jobs well adapted to new roles of humans, machines, and algorithms will be created—97 million. This net gain points to the evolving nature of the labour market, where traditional functions get mechanised and new careers open up in the areas of IT.
Complex and higher-skill demand jobs in technology, problem-solving, and creativity are on the rise. For instance, there is an increased demand for AI specialists, data analysts, and digital marketing professionals. In a study conducted by McKinsey Global Institute, it was estimated that up to 12 million workers may need to change their occupational category and learn new skills by the year 2030 because of automation. It has therefore become imperative that workers and employees continuously up-skill and re-skill to experience career growth.
Skill enhancement, which involves acquiring new skills to stay competitive in one’s current role, and skill development or training for transitioning into new roles, are essential strategies for success in today’s evolving landscape. LinkedIn Learning revealed that 90 percent of companies are concerned about employee retention, and 4 in 5 people want to learn how to use AI in their profession When organisations invest in the growth and education of their workers, they can have a more adaptable workforce. Governments are also beginning to realise this need. The UK government, for instance, initiated the National Skills Fund, with £2. 5 billion to assist adults to acquire new competencies and devise for technological transformation in the place of work.
Lifelong learning as a necessity
With the rapid pace of technological advancement, education is no longer confined to early life. Education is now a process that goes on throughout one’s life. According to the OECD, improving literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving skills in working with the population will increase employment chances and improve their wages.
This is to the effect that the new media have facilitated continuous learning. There are online courses ranging from coding to data science that help learners acquaint themselves with new market trends.
Takeaway
AI’s integration on an increasingly large scale necessitates continuous upskilling and reskilling to stay relevant in the ever-evolving world. This implies that individuals, businesses, and governments should work together in order to promote lifelong learning and the qualifications of the population to meet the demands, which are continuously evolving with the times. Education must evolve to not only future-proof individuals but also to empower them to thrive in an AI-driven world. Through a focus on digital skills, analytics, and AI governance, we can ensure a workforce that remains both relevant and resilient in the face of technological advancements.
