AI is changing work — the time is now for strategic upskilling

This article was originally published on the World Economic Forum’s Agenda blog.

• The jobs we do and the skills we need to do them are transforming rapidly.

• Individuals and businesses are beginning to upskill, but questions remain as to whether this is happening fast enough.

• Governments must act now on AI upskilling and invest in talent programmes, so that every member of the workforce can reach their potential.

This year’s World Economic Forum Future of Jobs report shows that business leaders and their employees are navigating unprecedented macroeconomic forces – chiefly the technological progress driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and Generative AI (GenAI) – and these are set to transform the labour market over the next five years.

Business leaders and professionals are feeling the impact of these rapid workplace shifts. LinkedIn’s Work Change report found that worldwide, seven out of every 10 executives say the pace of change at work is accelerating. Almost two-thirds of professionals report feeling overwhelmed by how quickly their jobs are changing.

This is hardly surprising. As LinkedIn data shows, the jobs we do and the skills we need to do them are being transformed. We know that for every 10 professionals, at least one has a job title that didn’t exist in 2000. They might be a data scientist or an AI engineer; 25 years ago, that wouldn’t have been an option.

The skills needed for work are expected to change by 70% by 2030 too. That massive shift is being accelerated by AI. The Future of Jobs report found that six out of every 10 business leaders expect AI and GenAI to transform their organizations. The technology holds so much potential and businesses that aren’t embracing it risk being left behind.

GenAI will impact a range of workplace skills

Individuals and businesses are beginning to upskill on AI as they race to keep up – the question is whether this is happening fast and broadly enough to meet this moment of transformation.

Globally, the proportion of workers with AI skills has increased by at least 100% across all sectors since 2016, which shows a whole range of professionals are preparing themselves for the new future of work. But, the concentration of AI talent is still comparatively low and not enough attention is being paid to the broader upskilling that would allow workers to make the most of the AI transition.

Business leaders must think carefully about designing effective strategies to equip workers to unlock the potential of AI. This requires a detailed understanding of the skills professionals have, the skills they want and the skills they need.

LinkedIn has identified three core groups of skills that will be impacted by AI, and most prominently by GenAI. GenAI technologies require AI literacy skills that enable professionals to use tools such as ChatGPT and Microsoft 365 Copilot, which are already changing how we work. Data shows that AI literacy is a major focus for upskilling. In the EU, for example, the number of professionals adding these skills to their profiles was 80 times greater in 2023 than in 2022.

But, while GenAI is capable of learning hundreds of skills – like writing, editing and data analysis – there are hundreds more skills that GenAI doesn’t have. Crucially, these are people skills, like leadership, teamwork, negotiation and relationship building. These skills are critical for the implementation of AI technologies and for successful business operations more broadly. Effective skills policies will be those that train workers to use AI and GenAI technologies, while also helping them to future-proof their role and position in the workforce by supporting the development of strong people skills.

Upskilling is a priority for governments going for growth

Success in AI isn’t just about investing in new technologies. There’s no point in having the best AI technology if no one knows how to use it. That’s why it's time to strategically design skills policies that prioritize continuous learning and are designed to factor in AI skills alongside rich people skills. And, central to effective skills policies is accurate, real-time data, which shows how talent is developing and where it’s being deployed across the economy.

Effective skills policies are key to a fast and fair AI transition. Governments across the world must act now on AI upskilling and invest in talent programmes, so that every member of the workforce can reach their potential. This is the only way to ensure we are leveraging the full potential of AI to boost economic growth.