Strategies for Developing the Future Tech Workforce

Every customer and government leader I meet is asking, “How can we make AI a force for good for our people, and not a threat?” 92% of jobs are expected to undergo some level of transformation due to advancements in AI. The work begins with identifying and enabling the new skills and training needed for AI preparedness. That’s why I’m honored to share the insights from the AI-Enabled ICT Workforce Consortium's inaugural report, “The Transformational Opportunity of AI on ICT Jobs.” This report examines the impact of AI on 47 ICT job roles and offers tailored training recommendations. It's a unique guide to the skills needed for the AI future, with recommendations that couldn't be clearer, timelier, or more urgent. Here are some of the top takeaways: - 92% of ICT jobs will undergo high or moderate transformation due to AI. - 40% of mid-level and 37% of entry-level ICT positions will see high levels of transformation. - Skills like AI ethics, responsible AI, prompt engineering, and AI literacy will become crucial. - Foundational skills such as AI literacy and data analytics are essential across all ICT roles. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gWfPc8WT The risks associated with an under-skilled, unprepared workforce are global in scale, ranging from economic wage gaps to trade imbalances, technological stagnation, social and ethical issues, and national security threats. This creates a pressing need for a coordinated effort to reskill and upskill employees around the world. 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. Led by Cisco and joined by industry giants like Accenture, Eightfold, Google, IBM, Indeed, Intel Corporation, Microsoft, and SAP the Consortium will train and upskill 95 million people over the next 10 years through their individual organizations' commitments.

Struggling with Skills Gaps? It's Time to Transform Your Strategy. According to EY, nearly two-thirds (62%) of companies are struggling to fully leverage AI due to gaps between technology and talent. This challenge spans industries, threatening to leave many organizations behind. Companies face two key types of skills gaps: scaling up existing capabilities and sourcing entirely new ones. For instance, while many businesses have machine learning engineers, few possess the advanced skills required to implement retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems or knowledge graphs. So, how can you close these critical gaps? Here are four strategies to get started: 1️⃣ . Upskill Your Workforce for Future Needs It’s not just about addressing today’s gaps but also preparing your team for future roles and skills while making your organization agile enough to pivot through future disruptions. Investing in skills like prompt engineering, AI model integration, and collaborating with AI agents will be essential for long-term success. 2️⃣ . Leverage AI to Boost Efficiency and Job Satisfaction AI tools like Copilot can improve coding speed by 55%, freeing developers to focus on more complex, fulfilling work. This helps alleviate skill shortages while boosting employee satisfaction by automating repetitive tasks and fostering meaningful engagement. 3️⃣ . Close Gaps in Data and Infrastructure Whether you develop in-house capabilities or partner with external AI providers, preparing proprietary data and sourcing the right infrastructure is crucial for effective AI integration. Addressing these foundational elements is key to long-term AI success. 4️⃣ . Build Buy-In by Addressing Employee Concerns AI adoption isn’t just about tech—it’s about people. One of the biggest challenges is earning employee buy-in. Leaders need to emphasize that AI isn’t here to take jobs, but to empower employees. Refactoring roles to collaborate with AI and creating new, AI-enhanced positions provide growth opportunities and help retain top talent. ⏳ The time to act is now. AI is reshaping tasks and roles, and businesses that fail to address these gaps risk being left behind. By upskilling your workforce, modernizing your infrastructure, and fostering a culture of acceptance, you can bridge the talent and technology gaps and unlock the full potential of AI. If this resonates with you, let’s connect. I’d love to hear where you are in your AI journey and explore how I can help. #futureofwork #digitaltransformation #aiandhumans #skillsgap

The job you'll have in 2030 probably doesn't have a name yet. Here's how to get ready. Microsoft recently announced it's reducing its workforce by more than 6,000 employees to free up resources for AI investment. It's a pattern we're seeing across tech—companies reshaping their workforce for different priorities. If you're worried about AI and your career, I get it. The world is changing fast, and it can feel overwhelming. But here's what I'm seeing from our data at Lensa: the companies thriving right now aren't replacing humans with AI. They're looking for people who can work with both. Three ways you can start preparing today: 🎯 Pick one repetitive task in your job. Learn how AI could handle it, then figure out what higher-level work that frees you up for. 🤖 Choose one AI tool relevant to your field. Spend 30 minutes daily for a week learning it. LinkedIn Learning has free courses. 🧠 Identify one complex problem at work that requires human judgment. Document how you solve it—that's your unique value. Jobs like AI trainers, algorithmic auditors, and human-machine collaboration specialists barely existed two years ago. Now companies can't fill them fast enough. Your career doesn't have to be at the mercy of these changes. You can shape how this plays out. Pro tip: Lensa can help with this. What's one skill you're building that didn't exist in your job description five years ago? #FutureOfWork #JobSearch #CareerDevelopment #AI

Turns out the future of work has a favorite duo: GenAI and career development. According to the latest reports from LinkedIn and Coursera, if your L&D strategy doesn’t include both, you might be training your talent... for someone else’s company. GenAI skills are up 866% (yes, that’s not a typo!), but human skills like communication, leadership, and risk management are still the real MVPs. Meanwhile, companies that invest in career development are 42% more likely to lead in AI adoption—and way more confident about profitability and retention. I might be a little biased here, but L&D feels even more critical for organizations these days. And if your upskilling plan still lives in a dusty PDF, it’s time for a reboot. See for yourself in the reports linked below. LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report: 2025: https://lnkd.in/gGwijKQr Coursera Job Skills Report 2025:  https://lnkd.in/gt3dMpWn #L&D #FutureOfWork #GenAI #CareerDevelopment #SkillsMatter #LearningCulture