Mastering artificial intelligence is now a key skill for staying competitive in the job market. — AFP Relaxnews
Artificial intelligence is emerging as an unavoidable driving force, profoundly redefining the job market. This upheaval is clearly reflected in job offers.
According to a recent LinkedIn study, AI-related job ads have risen by 30% worldwide since last fall. A development that confirms the growing importance of AI in the world of work.
All observers agree that today's world of work is nothing like that of a few years ago. Today, 10% of working people hold jobs that didn't even exist in the early 2000s, a figure that rises to 20% in the US.
From data analyst to full stack engineer, front-end developer and social media manager, these professions bear witness to the growing influence of new technologies on the job market.
Artificial intelligence is amplifying this transformation. The job of artificial intelligence engineer, for example, is enjoying impressive growth worldwide, topping the list of fast-growing jobs in countries such as the Netherlands, Singapore, the UK and the US.
Another fast-growing position is that of “head of AI”. In the US, the number of companies that have created this position has tripled in five years.
In the last two years alone, the number has grown by over 50%. If this momentum continues, it could double again within three to four years, according to LinkedIn.
But this dynamic does not only concern technical profiles such as specialist engineers or developers. Daniel Shapero, LinkedIn's chief operating officer, points out that companies are increasingly looking for professionals capable of integrating artificial intelligence into their day-to-day practices, whether to improve productivity or streamline decision-making.
"There's a feeling from employers that they need to make sure that the workers that they're hiring are up for the changes that are about to occur in the labour market," he told Business Insider.
What place for soft skills?
In this context, mastering artificial intelligence is now a key skill to remain competitive in the job market. This trend is prompting professionals across all sectors to turn en masse to platforms like LinkedIn Learning to train or perfect their AI skills.
In 2023, more than twice as many people embarked on this as in 2018. Even professions less likely to see the value of AI skills – like recruiters, sales or healthcare professionals – are now seven times more likely to add them to their skill sets.
But is this development taking place at the expense of "soft skills,” the human qualities that are essential in the modern world of work? Far from it. Since 2018, their importance has increased by 10%, and in some sectors where they were once overlooked, their value has even climbed by 20%.
Communication, for example, was the most sought-after skill for employers in 2024, according to LinkedIn. This enthusiasm for behavioral skills is due to the fact that managers and companies have realised that artificial intelligence reveals its full potential when used by humans capable of collaborating and adapting effectively.
Artificial intelligence is reshaping the professional world at an unprecedented pace. While the future remains uncertain in the face of this revolution, preparing for it is essential.
Those who invest now in adapting their skills won't just be going with the flow – they'll be at the forefront of this transformation. – AFP Relaxnews