As we know, the future of work is in a tricky situation. At least, that's what many technology leaders consistently say. Elon Musk predicts that AI will replace all jobs within 20 years. Bill Gates has said that even those trained to use AI tools may not be safe from its claws. And Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski has warned workers that the “tech bros” are showing just how serious the impact on jobs is going to be.
But that's not all the data shows, according to one LinkedIn executive.
With hundreds of millions of workers looking for jobs and employers filling open positions in real time, LinkedIn serves as one of the clearest barometers of what's actually happening on the job. Sue Duke, the company's managing director for EMEA, also doesn't buy into the AI apocalypse.
“That's not what we're looking at,” Duke revealed at the Fortune CEO Forum at The Shard in London. When asked about the slowdown in employment due to AI, she argued that the opposite is actually true.
“What we're seeing is that organizations that are adopting and integrating this technology are actually hiring more people to get the most out of this technology,” Duke explained.
“They recognize the business opportunity, innovation potential and ultimately growth potential of this technology and are looking for more business development talent, more tech-savvy talent and more sales reps.”
This news will come as a welcome surprise to the millions of job-seeking Gen Zers who continue to be told that entry-level jobs are about to be taken over by AI and that the youth unemployment crisis is well underway.
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For those looking to make the most of changes in the job market, Duke says there are two key areas to upskill.
The first, of course, is AI skills. Whether it's literacy, tools, prompt writing or other technical abilities, “these AI skills continue to be highly sought after in the labor market,” she said.
No matter what industry you want to work in, the demand isn't slowing down anytime soon, as companies race to integrate automation into their products and workflows. “We believe there is a huge demand for these skills across the economy and across all sectors, and many companies are looking for them,” Duke added.
As AI takes over many administrative tasks, the spotlight is on jobs that bots cannot do. Duke said “these unique people skills” are a second area of focus for employers. “They are still rock solid and always at the center of recruitment and demand around the world. They are not going away either.”
She called communication, team building and problem-solving some of the human skills that will stand the test of time: “These are the things we should be investing in.”
And ultimately, most of the skills that employers value are not technical, but adaptable. Bosses know that tools change faster than job titles. What they are looking for is someone who can change with them.
“The most important thing for a job seeker is the mindset you bring to the table,” Duke concluded.
“What employers are really looking for is a growth mindset and an understanding that this technology is advancing so rapidly that you need to be able to adapt. Adaptability is right at the top of the most in-demand skills, so making sure you bring that mindset and agility to the table is going to be really important.”
