The World Economic Forum publishes a survey every two years about what employers around the world expect their businesses will look like in the future. And much of the focus is on generative AI. And while a majority (77%) expect it will help train existing employees to work with AI, 41% say they expect it to reduce headcount. that they hire because AI makes various tasks The work is becoming more automated.
The survey included 1,000 employers worldwide, covering more than 14 million workers across 22 different industry segments. New report– One big issue emerging from the survey is that employers believe many workers will not have the skills needed to do the job as technology improves.
“AI and big data are at the top. of the fastest growing skills Followed by network and cyber security. Including knowledge of technology,” according to the report, “Enhancing skills related to technology Creativity, flexibility, flexibility and agility. Along with curiosity and lifelong learning. It is expected to continue to increase in importance during the period 2025-2030.”
This report appears to be bad news for graphic designers and legal secretaries. These are two jobs that employers will need less of in the future. It is assumed that this is because of AI.
“The presence of both graphic designers and legal secretaries outside of the top 10 fastest declining jobs is a first-of-its-kind forecast not seen in previous Future of Jobs reports. It may demonstrate GenAI's enhanced ability to perform cognitive tasks,” states the report.
Modern artificial intelligence tools can now create complex graphics using just a few prompts. Although the technology is still controversial, Because it is only a small copying tool.
“Job cuts in both roles are seen as being driven by both AI and data processing technology. Including from expanding digital access. This is a significant change from the 2023 report, when graphic designers were considered moderate growth jobs. and legal secretaries are not on the expected job growth/decrease list,” the report continues.
Employers say they believe attracting employees will involve an emphasis on health and wellbeing. This is a rather vague category to begin with. But it's certainly a sentiment that many in the United States can relate to. Because of our broken primary healthcare system. The United States is the only wealthy country in the world that does not have universal health coverage. And most health insurance is tied to employment.
good news? The survey predicts net growth in the number of jobs created over the next five years, despite advances in AI.
“Inferring from Future of Jobs survey respondents' forecasts of current trends from 2025 to 2030, job creation and destruction due to structural changes in labor and markets will account for 22% of jobs. all at present,” the report states.
“This is expected to create new jobs equivalent to 14% of current total employment, or 170 million jobs,” the report continues. “however This growth is expected to be offset by the replacement of 8% (or 92 million) of current jobs, resulting in net growth of 7% of total employment, or 78 million jobs.”
The report emphasizes that although technology is expected to increase global productivity, But humans using technology are expected to be more productive.
“Importantly, this analysis compares the proportion of all work deliveries in 2025 and 2030 that will be attributable to human workers, technology or collaboration between the two only, respectively, and does not consider potential changes in The exact amount of work (output) that is being completed,” the report said.
In other words, Both machines and humans could be significantly more productive by 2030, doing more or higher value work for the same or less time than they would have done in 2025. So any concerns? about human running Run out of things to do' because automation will be misplaced.”
Of course, that's little consolation for graphic designers. But I hope this is true for other professions. Especially when the AI has proven to be incredibly stupid. And they need a lot of babysitters to make sure they don't mess things up.