The Looming Skills Crisis: 49% of Workforce Skills to Vanish by 2025, Thanks To AI

A recent study published by edX, an online education platform, reveals that nearly half of the skills present in today’s workforce will become obsolete within just two years due to the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI).  

Sourced from a survey of 800 executives and 800 employees, the data suggests that 49% of current skills won’t be relevant by 2025. Additionally, 47% of executives believe their teams are ill-equipped for the impending changes in the workplace. 

According to the report, within the next five years, organizations will phase out 56% of entry-level knowledge worker roles because of AI. A majority, 79% of executives predict that such jobs will vanish entirely, making way for new roles for employees entering the workforce.  

However, it’s not just at entry level positions that AI is projected to impact. According to the report, 56% of executives also anticipate AI will either completely or partially replace executive leadership or C-suite roles at their organization.  

According to an analysis of the data published by Forbes, some experts see AI’s role as augmentative rather than purely artificial. Vittorio Cretella, CIO of Procter & Gamble, believes that successful AI applications will enhance human skills rather than replace them. 

As AI becomes more advanced in the coming years, repetitive tasks that can become automated will decrease in importance. To remain competitive, there will likely be more of an emphasis on investing time and resources into upskilling the workforce.