Building a future-ready workforce in the age of AI
While it would be naive to say automation poses no threat to job security, workers are largely enthusiastic about developing their AI skills. Many employers, however, are failing to sufficiently invest in training and tools needed to cultivate these capabilities—an oversight that hurts employees’ professional growth, and fundamentally, their businesses’ chance of future success.
As AI transforms the workplace, managers must ensure their staff have the technical know-how to keep up. It’s vital, however, that AI training is balanced with investment in other key professional skills, such as communication, problem-solving, and leadership—human-centered capabilities that complement and enhance technical knowledge. Business leaders understand the importance of wider, multi-skilled training in the age of AI; but worryingly, many are falling short when it comes to L&D initiatives. This lack of investment in staff skills risks increased turnover—something that costs companies $1 trillion annually.
AI’s productivity promise
Automation promises immense gains, but there’s a worrying shortfall in AI-skilled workers.
of companies are adapting business strategy because of AI.
of companies are struggling to find AI-savvy staff.
of companies are requiring workforce to learn AI skills.
76%
87%
39%
Source: 2023 edX Workplace Intelligence AI Report
Small teams can begin looking much bigger, provided they’re upskilled in the use of AI tools and technologies.”
“
—ANANT ARGAWAL Chief Platform Officer, 2U, and Founder, edX
AI skills growth stifled
Staff have big AI learning ambitions, but employers aren’t playing their parts.
of employees say it’s important to improve AI skills.
72%
of staff learning AI on own time due to lack of employer training
21%
of companies haven’t increased training budgets for AI.
59%
Source: 2023 edX Workplace Intelligence AI Report
AI won’t replace humans— but humans with AI will replace humans without AI.”
—
“
KARIM LAKHANI, Dorothy & Michael Hintze Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School
The enduring importance of Learning & Development
77%
39%
85%
of workers would stay with employer if L&D improved.
of staff plan would change jobs for better L&D.
of businesses concerned workers won’t develop other key skills in AI age.
Source: 2023 edX Workplace Intelligence AI Report
Employers need to up their L&D games to avoid a staff exodus.
While there are many ways executives can adapt their businesses, offering an outcomes-based learning and development program should be a central part of the long-term strategy to integrate AI.”
—ANDY MORGAN, EVP, Corporate Development & Enterprise Sales, edX
“
To learn more, visit edX.org.
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The age of artificial intelligence (AI) is here, and it promises to reshape the workforce as we know it. This transformative technology— on par with the personal computer or the internet—is filtering into every industry and business function, fundamentally changing how companies operate. Used effectively, automation offers the prospect of greater productivity, lower costs, and new sources of competitive advantage. Within the next decade, research indicates that AI could help boost corporate profits by more than $4 trillion.
Yet, for all its promise, AI’s potential is wasted if enterprises lack the skilled talent to harness it. Business leaders understand that to stay ahead, they must view AI not just as a tool, but also as a strategic imperative. However, according to a recent survey by edX, they’re struggling to recruit AI-savvy staff—and despite recognizing a looming skills gap, companies are falling short on providing AI training.
As things stand, today’s workforce is at risk of not evolving as quickly as the technology that underpins it.
This represents a huge challenge for employers. In the nascent AI age—as during any period of great workplace upheaval—businesses must redouble their reskilling efforts. This means fostering a culture of continuous learning and development (L&D); one that focuses on both emerging technical skills and enduring human abilities, such as communication, problem-solving, and leadership. Only by nurturing the human talent that thrives alongside automation can companies reap AI’s full rewards.
Though still relatively new to the market, AI solutions have the power to profoundly elevate business success—not least on the productivity front. Automated tools can eliminate work activities that currently consume up to 70% of employees’ time, freeing them up to focus on higher-value tasks. A large majority of business leaders are struggling to find workers with the requisite AI knowledge to implement these solutions, however—and curiously, despite the clear competitive advantage AI adoption confers, edX research suggests less than two in five employers are presently requiring their workforces to learn AI skills
Building a future-ready workforce in the age of AI
Though still relatively new to the market, AI solutions have the power to profoundly elevate business success—not least on the productivity front. Automated tools can eliminate work activities that currently consume up to 70% of employees’ time, freeing them up to focus on higher-value tasks. A large majority of business leaders are struggling to find workers with the requisite AI knowledge to implement these solutions, however—and curiously, despite the clear competitive advantage AI adoption confers, edX research suggests less than two in five employers are presently requiring their workforces to learn AI skills
AI won’t replace humans — but humans with AI will replace humans without AI.”
As AI transforms the workplace, managers must ensure their staff have the technical know-how to keep up. It’s vital, however, that AI training is balanced with investment in other key professional skills, such as communication, problem-solving, and leadership—human-centered capabilities that complement and enhance technical knowledge. Business leaders understand the importance of wider, multi-skilled training in the age of AI; but worryingly, many are falling short when it comes to L&D initiatives. This lack of investment in staff skills risks increased turnover—something that costs companies $1 trillion annually.
The age of artificial intelligence (AI) is here, and it promises to reshape the workforce as we know it. This transformative technology— on par with the personal computer or the internet—is filtering into every industry and business function, fundamentally changing how companies operate. Used effectively, automation offers the prospect of greater productivity, lower costs, and new sources of competitive advantage. Within the next decade, research indicates that AI could help boost corporate profits by more than $4 trillion.
Yet, for all its promise, AI’s potential is wasted if enterprises lack the skilled talent to harness it. Business leaders understand that to stay ahead, they must view AI not just as a tool, but also as a strategic imperative. However, according to a recent survey by edX, they’re struggling to recruit AI-savvy staff—and despite recognizing a looming skills gap, companies are falling short on providing AI training. As things stand, today’s workforce is at risk of not evolving as quickly as the technology that underpins it.
This represents a huge challenge for employers. In the nascent AI age—as during any period of great workplace upheaval—businesses must redouble their reskilling efforts. This means fostering a culture of continuous learning and development (L&D); one that focuses on both emerging technical skills and enduring human abilities, such as communication, problem-solving, and leadership. Only by nurturing the human talent that thrives alongside automation can companies reap AI’s full rewards.