Are Workers Losing Traditional Skills To AI And Tech?

The more businesses are becoming tech forward, the more the demand for some skills are changing. This can be seen with the latest report from the Graduate Management Admission Council, that shows the change in skills that recruiters and employers find necessary and relevant in the coming years.

According to the latest GMAC Corporate Recruiters Survey, ‘Technology/IT’ skills, currently the 14th most critical, are expected to become the 3rd most important in the next 5 years. ‘AI’ skills are predicted to move from 21st to 4th place.

Nalisha Patel, Europe Regional Director at GMAC, comments on the changes, saying, “With AI and automation becoming more prevalent in operations, the need for employees who can effectively manage these technologies is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge.”

 

Decline In Demand For Traditional Skills

 

The advancement of tech and AI in businesses has taken down the need for certain traditional skills. Examples of skills that are expected to drop are project management and team work. Team work shows a move from 4th to 15th place, and project management went from 7th to 17th.

This is telling of the trend where automated systems and AI are beginning to handle what were once tasks handled by human teams. This might mean that having specialised individual skills might work out better than only possessing general and team-based skills.

 

The Need For Grit And Innovation

 

Together with technical skills, the traits of ‘grit’ and ‘innovation’ are also becoming more and more important in the workplace. Grit, according to the surveyors, is “defined as a combination of passion, perseverance, resilience, and determination towards achieving long-term goals.”

The need for employees with grit is expected to rise to the 9th most important skill, because recruiters and employers are looking for resilient and more determined workers. Innovation is predicted to go from 11th to 6th, as more employers and recruiters look for more creative and proactive problem solvers for this ever changing market and tech world.

 

 

The global business environment shows no different sentiments. Flexibility and resilience are becoming more important than, say, ‘interpersonal skills’ in the workplace.

“Employers do not want to be left behind by an ongoing industrial revolution, one based on automations and more data,” says Nalisha Patel, Europe Regional Director at GMAC.

She continued, “This is driving the skills employers are expecting to prioritise. As AI and automation dominate business operations, expertise in these areas is vital for efficiency and competitiveness. Organisations are recognising that they need employees who can leverage these technologies effectively.

“Recruiters are also adjusting their focus to address a more volatile global business environment, where resilience, adaptability and grit are essential.”

 

How Does Education Play A Role?

 

These trends have some implications for educational institutions, suggesting that curricula adjustments are necessary to align better with the in-demand skills of technology and AI. There are courses available online, both free and paid, that can help employers and employees alike, prepare better for this wave of evolving industry requirements across.

It is important to keep in mind, though, that AI is not remotely close to being a full on replacement to all skills-based jobs. Many jobs still very much require the “human touch” and logic for practical reasons, and AI is just a tool to make human jobs more efficient. The goal should be to learn how to use AI to enhance skills instead of completely erase them.