AI skills are not just a highly sought after talent in the global labor market, it’s now becoming a must-have to most companies.
The workforce is taking notes. A recent study by Microsoft and LinkedIn surveyed 31,000 employees across 31 countries and found a staggering 75% of workers use generative AI at work. 78% are also bringing their own AI tools to work — particularly within small and medium-sized businesses.
The World Economic Forum reports this trend is consistent with the PwC’s 2024 AI Jobs Barometer finding that jobs requiring AI skills are growing 3.5 times faster than the general job market.
According to the study, “Generative AI (GAI) tools, such as Copilot, ChatGPT, and Gemini, have the potential to fundamentally change how people work and their productivity. 75% of knowledge workers using AI at work and 79% of work leaders stating their company needs to adopt AI to stay competitive (Microsoft & LinkedIn, 2024).”
The World Economic Forums noted the rise of “AI super users,” or, individuals who routinely leverage AI tools to improve their productivity, creativity, and overall job satisfaction.
Business leaders are increasingly favoring candidates who possess AI skills over those with more traditional experience. Microsoft reports two-thirds (66%) of surveyed business leaders said “they would not hire someone without AI skills.”
Given that, it might be fear that causes candidates to lose out on new opportunities. Many workers are still afraid of being replaced by AI, seemingly making them insecure to mention it in job materials. It’s reported that 53% of respondents fear that by using AI they appear replaceable and 45% worry that AI could take their jobs.
The future of work is undoubtedly intertwined with AI systems and tools, and those who adapt by upskilling in AI tools will find themselves at a distinct advantage in an increasingly competitive job market. To adapt to big changes in the labor market, upskilling and learning how to integrate AI tools into workflows is consistently recommended by experts.
