# Adapting to the Future Workforce: Are You Ready for Change?
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Chapter 1: A Glimpse into Tomorrow's Workplace
Imagine waking up to your intelligent assistant at 6:45 AM, notifying you of a job opening you’ve been eagerly anticipating. The AI gently prompts, "The position you wanted has just been posted. It’s now on your screen." You reply with a simple, "Alright."
As you make your way to the bathroom, the shower activates at your ideal temperature. After a quick five minutes, you instruct your robotic kitchen, "Prepare breakfast for Tuesday and start dinner prep." The AI cheerfully responds, "Breakfast will be ready in 15 minutes, and coffee is brewed. We’ll need potatoes and cream for dinner; I’ll handle the ordering."
While drying off, you say, "Show me the job." The details appear on your smart mirror, and after reviewing, you place a bid, secure the job, and electronically sign the contract. Although the pay is less than you hoped, you accept it because you need the additional income this month. With a lighter workload anticipated for the upcoming months, you recognize the necessity to reskill.
Your assistant then alerts you that your 10:00 AM meeting has been moved to 8:30 AM. When you inquire about the reason, the AI explains, "It appears to be a general product engineering concern."
As you finish breakfast, you instruct your assistant, "Prepare the home office for remote teamwork."
Upon entering your home office, you don a virtual reality headset and controllers, greeting your team with, "Good morning! I understand we have a product engineering issue—how can I assist?"
Will AI exacerbate skill disparities?
The narrative above may sound fictional, but it closely resembles a potential reality. Artificial intelligence stands to enhance daily life through smart assistants, automated kitchens, digital contracts, and virtual workplaces.
However, AI's influence on employment cannot be overlooked. We may face a future where the job market becomes divided into low-skill, low-pay positions and high-skill, high-pay roles. Author Martin Ford foresees an escalating inequality due to the erosion of job skills.
If job skills are diminished by AI, could a portfolio career—driving for Uber, shopping for Instacart, hosting on Airbnb, or working with TaskRabbit—be your only option?
Ford asserts, "Inequality may significantly increase as capital continues to replace labor. Wealthy individuals own a large share of capital, while the majority do not. This trend will likely deepen societal inequality, presenting a challenge for us in the decades to come."
What occupations might AI replace?
The World Economic Forum has initiated its Reskilling Revolution, collaborating with notable partners such as LinkedIn, Coursera, and Manpower Group. This initiative aims to equip one billion individuals with better education and skills by 2030, ensuring they can adapt to the anticipated displacement of millions of jobs caused by technological advancements.
AI is expected to replace roles characterized by routine, repetitive tasks, including:
- Accountants
- Delivery Personnel
- Data Entry Clerks
- Bookkeepers
- Medical Professionals
Which professions are less vulnerable to AI?
The focus of the Reskilling Revolution, as highlighted in the 2020 "Jobs of Tomorrow" report, is on seven emerging job clusters:
- Care Economy
- Data and AI
- Engineering and Cloud Computing
- Green Economy
- People and Culture
- Product Development
- Sales, Marketing, and Content
Each cluster encompasses various roles and skill sets. For instance, the Data and AI cluster features jobs like:
- Artificial Intelligence Specialist
- Data Scientist
- Data Engineer
- Big Data Developer
- Data Analyst
Essential skills for these roles include:
- Data Science
- Data Storage Technologies
- Development Tools
- Artificial Intelligence
- Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC)
As you review this list, it becomes clear that ongoing learning is crucial. Embracing a mindset of continuous improvement is vital; constantly ask yourself, "What else can I learn?"
Ford emphasizes, "The most critical skill for the future is the ability to learn, adapt, and do so with enthusiasm and effectiveness."
Will you thrive or falter?
Indeed, AI will foster the creation of new products and services, leading to the emergence of new jobs and industries. To benefit from this innovation, you must ensure your skills remain cutting-edge.
Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, notes, "In the next two years, 42% of core skills required for current jobs are expected to change."
AI will touch all facets of life. Those who embrace change and actively pursue reskilling will thrive, while those resistant to this new landscape risk obsolescence.