Bridging the AI Skills Gap: Why Employers Must Step Up

TL;DR:

• 74% of workers blame employers for their AI skills gap.
• 92% of IT jobs are expected to transform due to AI, with 74% of IT pros fearing skill obsolescence.
• Only 25% of employees find their organisation’s professional development plans highly effective.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not just the future; it’s the present. It’s transforming jobs, and workers know it. A whopping 92% of IT jobs are expected to change due to AI, and 74% of IT professionals fear their skills will become obsolete. But here’s the kicker: employees are eager to learn AI, but they’re not getting the support they need from their employers.

The AI Skills Gap: A Growing Concern

A recent survey by Skillsoft of 2,500 full-time employees in the US, UK, Germany, and India revealed some startling facts. 35% of respondents lack confidence in their current skills, and 41% worry about job security due to skills gaps. The most critical gap? AI and machine learning (ML).

• 43% of respondents said AI/ML was their biggest skills gap.
• 74% of these workers blame their organisation’s poor AI training programs.
• Only 25% found their organisation’s professional development plans highly effective.

Ciara Harrington, Skillsoft’s chief people officer, warns that skills gaps “hold workers back from reaching their full potential” and “hinder organizations in achieving their key business objectives.”

Employees Eager to Learn AI

Interestingly, employees who identified AI/ML as their biggest skills deficiency were more confident in their ability to learn these skills. Only 21% lacked confidence in their skills, and 33% had job security concerns—both better than the survey average. This suggests that workers are eager to integrate AI into their workflows, given the opportunity.

The Role of Organisations

Organisations need to step up their AI training game. While 95% of respondents said their organisation has professional development plans, the complaints piled up:

• 43% cited lack of time to engage with training.
• 30% found learning formats non-user-friendly.
• 26% noted lack of leadership support.

Gartner VP analyst Lily Mok emphasises the need for a holistic, long-term approach to talent development. She advises equipping managers with the right tools, investing in advanced platforms, and building a continuous learning culture.

The Importance of Effective Training Programs

With accelerated AI adoption, strong internal training programs are crucial. CIOs play a key role in setting workforce AI training agendas. They must consider how these programs are developed to offer the right platforms and approaches for employees eager to upskill.

The Future of AI in the Workplace

The future of AI in the workplace is bright, but it depends on employers bridging the skills gap. As Mok puts it, companies can’t “hire themselves out of the skill shortage.” They must invest in their current workforce.

Comment and Share:

What AI skills do you think are most crucial for the future workplace? How can employers better support their workers in learning these skills? Share your thoughts and experiences below, and don’t forget to subscribe for updates on AI and AGI developments.

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