AI Set to Transform 92% of ICT Jobs: Tech Giants Call for Urgent Upskilling

Tech giants: AI will transform 92% of ICT jobs; we must upskill now

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More Generative AI is already changing the way many of us work -- and it is set to completely revolutionize some roles. In fact, according to one bold new prediction, more than 92% of information and communication technology (ICT) jobs will either be highly or moderately transformed by AI. This assertion comes from the AI-Enabled ICT Workforce Consortium, which has released the new comprehensive report, "The Impact of Generative AI." The consortium was formed in April by some of the world's largest big tech companies -- including Google, IBM, Microsoft, SAP, Intel, Cisco, Accenture, Indeed and Eightfold AI -- to address challenges with AI talent. "Gen AI has the potential to reinvent fundamental aspects of our daily lives," said Ryan Oakes, global health and public service industry lead at Accenture. "We are tackling the opportunities and challenges that the workforce will face as generative AI becomes increasingly prevalent." Seven 'job families' to be most disrupted To gain a broad understanding of AI's impact on the workforce, the consortium analyzed 47 specific ICT job roles across seven "job families." Those families included business and management; cybersecurity; data science; design and user experience; infrastructure and operations; software development; and testing and quality assurance. Roles were rated low, moderate or high transformation. Moderate- and -high indicating that at least 50% of principal skills will be impacted by AI. Jobs were also analyzed by seniority level, with the consortium finding that 96% of entry-level and 84% of mid-level positions will be significantly impacted by AI. While AI will have an effect to some extent on all job roles, the consortium projects the biggest transformations to occur in business and management, design and user experience and testing and quality assurance. In business and management, for instance, 62.5% of roles were identified as high transformation and 37.5% as moderate. In day-to-day work, AI can help create product strategies, provide predictive analytics, develop reports, manage large-scale projects and automate numerous processes. Looking ahead, workers across seniority levels will need to acquire skills in AI-driven competitive analysis, AI integration strategies, machine learning (ML) literacy, prompt engineering, data science and visualization and natural language processing (NLP), according to the consortium. Other skills with increasing relevance will include understanding of the product development lifecycle, agile methodologies, process improvement, predictive analytics, data management, success KPIs and statistical models. Skills with decreased relevance, on the other hand, will include basic data analysis, manual data cleaning and preparation, task scheduling, basic report generation, documentation maintenance and KPI monitoring. In the design and user experience family, for its part, 66.7% of roles are expected to have high transformation and 33.3% moderate transformation. The consortium points out that AI can automate routine tasks, streamline workflows, facilitate data analysis and create "hyper personalization." Workers will need new (and enhanced) skills in ML, prompt engineering, proprietary AI design, Scikit, data analysis and interpretation, product design and even lean manufacturing, the consortium urges. Skills that are beginning to go by the wayside, meanwhile, include basic coding, manual content creation and research. Lydia Logan, VP for global education and workforce development at IBM, commented of the overall report: "Now, those in the ICT sector -- from students to workers to employers -- have the data about which jobs will change, how they will change, and what individuals and employers can do to prepare for this shift and remain competitive in the evolving global labor market." Skill shifts require quick action by all parties Across the board, the consortium identified 10 increasingly relevant skills: On the other hand, the 10 technical skills expected to decrease in relevance include: The consortium emphasizes that enterprises must invest in AI training to promote competitiveness and innovation. By doing so, they can attract and retain talent. At the same time, they must take worker training needs and feedback into consideration. For their part, academic institutions should be updating their curriculum to include AI technologies and offer concise certificate programs, according to the consortium. They should also prioritize investments in work-based learning initiatives, flexible learning paths and collaboration with regional secondary education institutions. The onus falls on workers, too, who should "embrace lifelong learning to stay relevant," the consortium advises. Those in the workforce must proactively seek reskilling and upskilling opportunities through employer programs, labor-sponsored training implemented by labor unions or online courses or certifications. And, those just joining the workforce can take advantage of internships, mentorships and hands-on projects. Going forward, the consortium will explore public-private partnerships to contribute to an "AI "skills taxonomy" that will define and map skills to roles and define required levels of proficiencies, explained Francine Katsoudas, EVP and chief people, policy and purpose officer at Cisco. The consortium also plans to introduce an AI Workforce Playbook, she said, which will help enterprises of all sizes proactively reskill and upskill workforces. This will draw on insights from stakeholders such as labor unions, coalitions, academia, governments and, just as importantly, underserved communities. Further, Katsoudas said the consortium will continue to collaborate with the G7 governments on an AI Action Plan. "AI represents a never-before-seen opportunity for technology to benefit humankind in every way," she said, "and we have to act intentionally to make sure populations don't get left behind."

The Transformational Opportunity of AI on ICT Jobs

AI represents a never-before-seen opportunity for technology to benefit humankind in every way. It's changing everything - especially the way we work. Preparing the global workforce for the advancements of AI technology is not just a business objective at Cisco. It's arguably one of the most impactful ways to power an inclusive future for all. It's why our Cisco Networking Academy work is so crucial - 20.5 million students trained worldwide and counting! It's also why I'm so proud of our leadership role with the AI-Enabled Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Workforce Consortium (the Consortium). Every customer and world leader I meet is seeking to understand, "How can we make AI a force for good for our people, and not a threat?" Today, the Consortium released its inaugural report to start addressing this crucial question. Launched in April 2024, the formation of the Consortium was a bold and determined move to shape and secure the future of our industry and people. The Consortium is a voluntary, coordinated effort led by Cisco in collaboration with industry leaders Accenture, Eightfold, Google, IBM, Indeed, Intel, Microsoft and SAP. We're guided by advisors from the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, CHAIN5, Communications Workers of America, DIGITALEUROPE, the European Vocational Training Association, Khan Academy, and SMEUnited and our shared goal is to proactively plan for the transformational impact of AI on ICT jobs, employees and employers. The Consortium's report, "The Transformational Opportunity of AI on ICT Jobs," is a first-of-its-kind look at how AI intersects with our global ICT workforce, focused on practical suggestions for targeted training programs and skills for 47 different ICT roles. Here are some of the top takeaways from the report: The promise of AI is extraordinary, and the Consortium is committed to helping workers across ICT roles benefit from its potential. This work begins with identifying and enabling the new skills and training needed for AI preparedness. By investing in a long-term roadmap for an inclusive and skilled workforce, we can help all populations participate and thrive in the era of AI. Through their individual organizations' commitments, the combined Consortium will train and upskill 95 million people over the next 10 years. With AI-driven educational tools, we can create learning experiences that cater to individual needs and learning styles. We can also help democratize learning - making reskilling and upskilling more efficient, personalized, and productive. Today's report is the first milestone in our work to empower professionals to flourish in an AI-driven landscape. It's a practical guide for giving global populations access to the skills and training they need to secure family- and community-sustaining jobs. But it's also filled with vision and inspirational research about the opportunity to unlock human potential with AI adoption, through: Preparing the global workforce for the AI-driven future is essential for fostering economic growth, social equity, and technological innovation. The risks of an under skilled and unprepared workforce range from economic wage gaps to trade imbalances, technological stagnation, social and ethical issues, and national security threats. Even with that as a backdrop, Cisco's AI Readiness Index shows that only 14% of organizations are fully prepared to leverage AI-powered technologies, with more than half admitting serious concerns if they fail to act soon. The Consortium's report about the impact of AI on ICT jobs is a unique and differentiated piece of work that gives companies and workers a useful guide to the exact skills needed to not just circumvent risks, but to flourish. The AI training recommendations couldn't be clearer, timelier or more urgent. Today's report is more than an analysis, it's also an "ask." As AI transforms job functions, there is a pressing need for a coordinated effort by governments, educational institutions, and industries to invest in AI education, training, and lifelong learning programs. The AI-Enabled ICT Workforce Consortium calls for organizations to proactively lean into this transition and support those at risk of being left behind. The "Transformational Opportunity of AI on ICT Jobs" report is now available to all as a roadmap for our collective journey to an inclusive - and elevated - future for all.

Tech companies call for workforce upskilling to meet AI impact on jobs

The report was inspired by the work done under the EU-US Trade and Technology Council. Tech companies Cisco, Accenture, Eightfold, Google, IBM, Indeed, Intel, Microsoft, and SAP have warned that the ICT industry needs to improve the AI skills of their employees, as 92% of these jobs are expected to transform due to artificial intelligence developments in the coming years. In a report this week (30 July), the companies say that in 31% of the roles, employees will see less need for basic programming and language skills and a shift towards higher-level AI development competencies. They therefore need a better understanding of the machine learning systems instead. With the introduction of tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Midjourney, workers must prepare for digital work environments to become increasingly adept at mimicking human capabilities, the report said. According to a recent World Economic Forum study, 58% of employees believe their job skills will change significantly in the next five years due to AI and big data. The group of companies was inspired by a working group on talent for growth under the US -EU Trade and Technology Council: a diplomatic forum for discussion and cooperation on technology and trade policy established in 2021. The tech companies each commit to invest in training. Microsoft for example said it will be training and certifying 10 million people in digital skills by 2025, while Google announced over $130 million in funding to support AI training and skills globally. The tech businesses' call comes following the European Commission publication earlier this month (2 July) of its Digital Decade report in which it said the continent is falling short in several digital sectors including AI development and training of qualified personnel in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector. In addition, the EU's AI Act - stringent rules to regulate AI tools depending on the risk they pose to society - is set to officially enter into force this August, after it was approved by lawmakers and the 27 EU member states earlier this year. The general-purpose AI rules will apply one year after entry into force and the obligations for high-risk systems in three years' time.