Nearly Half of C-Suite Executives are Investing in Employee AI Skills Training

U.K. executives estimate that 41% of their workforce will need to be reskilled over the next three years due to the introduction of AI, with skill development being a top priority.

What’s going on:

IBM conducted a study that surveyed 3,000 global C-Suite executives across 20 industries and 28 countries to identify top priorities for business leaders as they integrate advanced automated technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) tools, according to Tech Radar.

The data found that 46% of executives are investing in skills training for their workers. However, the study revealed a discrepancy between what employers and workers consider important. U.K. workers, for example, prioritize meaningful work — hoping that AI will take over mundane tasks. In contrast, executives rated this as the least important factor for their employees. Both groups agreed on the importance of flexible work arrangements like hybrid and remote work.

Why it matters:

As AI tools become more widely integrated into professional workflows, businesses adequately preparing their employees for technology shifts becomes more of a concern for employees. AI is expected to automate many tasks, making certain skills obsolete practically overnight, and this impact will create a need for new skills in the workforce.

How it’ll impact the future:

AI’s integration into the workforce will likely require what many are calling reskilling and upskilling, as workers will need new skills to thrive in an excessively automated work environment. As the data suggests, AI tooling might also contribute to major changes in job priorities, with workers focusing more on meaningful and impactful work while AI handles repetitive tasks.