The Great Upskill: How AI and AGI are Shaping Asia's Workforce

The Great Resignation continues into its third year, with more workers considering job switches.,Employees are embracing AI and AGI technologies to enhance efficiency and career growth.,Upskilling is a priority for workers, with businesses encouraged to invest in employee development.

The Great Resignation: An Ongoing Trend

As we enter the third year of the Great Resignation, a global workforce survey by PwC reveals a surprising trend. More workers are considering changing jobs in the next 12 months than during the peak of the Great Resignation in 2022.

Of the 56,000 workers surveyed, 28% expressed a strong likelihood of leaving their current employers. This is a significant increase from the 19% reported in 2022 and slightly higher than the 26% in 2023. This trend highlights a broader shift in workforce dynamics, as discussed in articles like What Every Worker Needs to Answer: What Is Your Non-Machine Premium?.

Embracing AI and AGI: A New Era of Workforce Efficiency

PwC's 2024 "Hopes and Fears" survey also highlights a growing trend among workers: the embrace of emerging technologies like generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). With rising workloads and an accelerating pace of workplace change, employees are turning to AI and AGI to stay ahead. The rapid adoption of these technologies is a key theme, especially in regions like Southeast Asia, where AI is set to add nearly US$1 trillion to the economy by 2030.

Pete Brown, Global Workforce Leader at PwC UK, emphasises the importance of organisations investing in their employees' skills growth.

"Employees are placing an increased premium on organisations that invest in their skills growth," he says. "Businesses must prioritise upskilling and employee experience."

"Employees are placing an increased premium on organisations that invest in their skills growth," he says. "Businesses must prioritise upskilling and employee experience." This sentiment is echoed by the move towards initiatives like Singapore wanting its workforce to be AI bilinguals.

The Impact of AI and AGI on Job Satisfaction and Efficiency

Among employees who use GenAI daily, a staggering 82% expect it to increase their efficiency in the next 12 months. This confidence extends to career growth and remuneration, with nearly half of the respondents expecting GenAI to lead to higher salaries. Moreover, almost two-thirds believe these emerging tools will improve the quality of their work. This positive outlook is further supported by research into the economic impact of AI on labor markets OECD Employment Outlook 2023: Artificial Intelligence and the Labour Market.

The Upskilling Imperative: Retaining Talent in a Changing World

Carol Stubbings, Global Markets and Tax and Legal Services Leader at PwC UK, underscores the need for employers to invest in their staff and technology platforms.

"The findings suggest that job satisfaction is no longer enough," she says. "Employers must invest in staff and tech platforms to mitigate pressures and retain talent."

"The findings suggest that job satisfaction is no longer enough," she says. "Employers must invest in staff and tech platforms to mitigate pressures and retain talent."

Harnessing the Power of AI and AGI

Rationale: To make the most of AI and AGI technologies, employees need to understand how to integrate them into their work effectively.

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