The winds of change are sweeping through the world of work. Artificial intelligence and automation continue their relentless march, fundamentally altering job roles as we know them. Like it or not, AI has changed our lives forever.
This seismic shift necessitates new skills for career resilience. To stay relevant in this brave new AI infused workforce, we face an urgent need for continuous, lifelong learning. The time has come to reimagine how we upskill and reskill.
Enter AI-enhanced learning management systems. These could enable efficient and personalised upskilling at scale for the masses. By integrating AI into learning, we can transform static content into adaptive, engaging experiences.
In this blog, we will peel back the layers of this new era for employee development. We'll explore AI's growing influence on the UK job market and the strategies needed to thrive in this AI era. Ready or not, the future is hurtling forward.
Examples of some of the more affected occupations due to introduction of generative ai. Source: KPMG Analysis The Growing Influence of AI in the UK Job Market The impact of AI on the UK labour market is expected to be profound in the coming years. A 2017 report by the UK government found that AI and related automation technologies could reshape jobs and skills similar to previous industrial revolutions.
While technological shifts displaced some professions, they also created new roles and opportunities. A 2023 report by the UK government estimates that 10-30 percent of UK jobs are at high risk of automation by the 2030s.
It highlights the necessity of lifelong learning and acquiring human skills like creativity and socio-emotional intelligence.
However, only 22 percent are currently supporting workers to develop relevant skills. This gap highlights the urgent need for strategic workforce planning and training.
Experts predict AI will automate repetitive, routine tasks rather than replace entire jobs. The report “Generative AI and the UK Labour Market” by KPMG UK finds AI will enable the creation of new tasks and business models. It estimates Generative AI alone can add £31 billion to UK GDP in the next decade.
This makes a strong case for upskilling to stay relevant. A LinkedIn report reveals soft skills like persuasion, collaboration, adaptability, and time management will be critical.
Technical skills like AI, machine learning, data science, and analytics will also be highly sought after. At Vibrancy we are constantly upskilling, I'm adding data analytics to my skill tree this year to stay relevant (and also because I'm a huge nerd) moving forward.
Emerging skills in the ai era. Understanding AI Beyond Technology Beyond automating tasks, AI has immense potential for improving how we learn. AI allows for more personalised, contextual learning tailored to individuals' strengths, weaknesses, and interests. This is especially relevant for modern diverse workplaces with disparate skill needs.
With neural networks and natural language processing, AI systems can understand learning contexts and requirements. They can then suggest suitable content accordingly, creating a dynamic, adaptive learning experience.
Moreover, as per Burning Glass Technologies Labour Insights, demand for AI skills has grown 4.5 times faster than other IT skills since 2015 in the UK. An AI readiness report by the UK government also stresses developing AI expertise within the country. Hence, AI literacy will be critical across sectors and roles.
The Need for Upskilling in the AI Era With AI adoption growing, employees at all levels must continuously gain new skills to stay employable. A Future of Jobs report by the World Economic Forum reveals roles requiring social and emotional intelligence, creativity, critical thinking, and complex problem-solving will emerge.
Accordingly, workforce training must evolve to build capabilities in growing areas like data analytics, machine learning, design thinking, etc. Employees should leverage online courses, boot camps, nanodegrees and other digital resources to self-direct their learning.
AI-powered learning management systems (LMS) can enable skill building at scale across organisations. They offer personalised recommendations based on skills assessments, aligned to individual learning goals. This helps employees steer their careers amidst the tectonic industry shifts led by AI.
AI-powered LMS: A New Era of Learning Integrating AI and machine learning in LMS platforms can transform corporate learning. AI algorithms analyse vast sets of data on learners' strengths, gaps and engagement patterns. Based on this, they can recommend relevant learning paths and content to each individual.
By tracking capability frameworks, AI engines can identify current and emerging skills needed in the organisation. They can suggest appropriate courses, resources and mentors to help employees develop those skills.
For instance, vibrancy's AI tutoring platform provides feedback, advanced Q&A sessions and assessments to enhance knowledge retention. Companies can leverage it to successfully re-skill their workforce and make sure employees are always up-to-date with the latest training. AI is also being used for administrative tasks like automation of compliance training, freeing up learner time.
How AI in LMS Transforms Learning Here are some key ways in which AI-driven LMS solutions are enhancing learning:
Personalised Learning Pathways Based on learners' profiles, capabilities, interests and goals, AI can map out a custom curriculum. This personalisation ensures employee development is targeted and efficient.
Adaptive Learning By analysing individual progress, AI can tweak training content and assessments in real time. This helps address knowledge gaps and build proficiency.
Intuitive Content Recommendations Based on peer learning patterns and organisational goals, AI suggests relevant content to each learner. This keeps employees motivated in their learning journeys.
Smart Mentoring & Collaboration AI engines can connect learners to peer groups and mentors who can provide coaching and support. This fosters collaborative learning.
Automated Administration AI handles logistics like registration, scheduling, notifications etc. enabling learners to focus on actual development. It also tracks participation and impact.
Engaging Content Delivery With data, AI identifies the best formats for different learners, whether videos, gamification or microlearning. Multi-modal content keeps learning stimulating.
Preparing for the Future: Upskilling with AI For long-term workforce resilience, we business owners must implement targeted strategies to develop future-ready skills leveraging AI's potential. Some ways we can achieve this include:
Identifying Gaps AI analytics on skills supply and demand can spot skill gaps and maturity levels across the workforce. This allows the creation of relevant development initiatives.
Mapping Emerging Capabilities Data mining can identify new skills becoming critical for business goals. Learning programs can then be tailored to build those capabilities proactively.
Personalised Interventions Based on individual learning journeys, AI nudges and interventions can be designed like prompts, assessments and recommendations.
Role-based Learning Pathways For different job functions, AI can devise optimal learning paths including courses, certifications, rotations and experiences.
Customised Content Curation Relevant job aids, microlearning and resources can be recommended based on learner roles and interests to make training engaging.
Enabling Self-Directed Learning With AI guidance, employees can take charge of their learning and continuously upskill. This boosts engagement, agility and capability building.
Focused, AI-optimised upskilling initiatives will help organisations equip their workforce to thrive amidst the upcoming mass-AI-adoption period while staying committed to their people.
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em The rise of AI calls for new approaches to workforce learning. Organisations must enable continuous development to tackle skills mismatches and prepare for new job landscapes. AI-enhanced learning management systems (LMS) provide a scalable solution for AI upskilling.
AI can transform static learning content into personalised, adaptive experiences. This can enhance learner engagement and efficiency in upskilling. With AI harmonising work and learning, employees gain skills to stay agile and realise their full potential amidst the AI age.
Instead of dreading AI and automation, organisations must leverage AI’s possibilities for elevating human skills and employability. As digital transformation accelerates, AI-powered, lifelong learning is set to play a key role in our journey toward purposeful and empowering futures of work.
References 1. The potential impact of AI on UK employment and the demand for skills - GOV.UK.
2. Generative AI and the UK Labour Market - KPMG UK.
3. The Future of Jobs - World Economic Forum.
4. LinkedIn 2020 Emerging Jobs Report.
5. How AI is changing workplace learning - Josh Bersin.
6. Can AI Create Personalized Learning Experiences? - EdSurge
7. How AI And Machine Learning Can Enhance L&D Offerings - EI Design
