If you thought that ChatGPT’s millions of users indicated that the workforce has fully transitioned to using AI, then you’re in for a shocking revelation:
Almost the entire global workforce is not using AI (artificial intelligence) in their workplaces, or do not fully understand its benefits for their work processes, according to findings from The Workforce Index, a fresh study released by Slack. The study revealed that approximately two-thirds of workers have not used AI tools at work, while more than 90% do not consider AI to be trustworthy for completion of their work projects.
This spells out a major problem: many employers and executives recognize the urgency of the need for an AI-boosted workforce, and they understand just how beneficial and integral this technology is to employee wellbeing, boosted job satisfaction, the creation of new jobs, and improved business outcomes.
In fact, “executive urgency to incorporate AI tools into business operations has increased seven times over the past six months and is now a top concern, above inflation or the broader economy,” says the study.
However, most employees still do not have AI skills.
So if there are hardly enough employees to match the demand, the jobs will only go to the few professionals who have the skills and can prove it, meaning that you, like several other hopeful job candidates, could be writing yourself out of lucrative career opportunities without even realizing it—if you don’t have the needed AI skills.
PwC released some striking data on AI and its effect on the expanding workforce of 2024, in its Global AI Jobs Barometer report. “Postings for AI jobs are growing 3.5x faster than for all jobs. For every AI job posting in 2012, there are now seven job postings,” it said. “Jobs that require AI skills carry up to a 25% wage premium in some markets.”
Furthermore, and perhaps most importantly, the report highlighted that the “skills sought by employers are changing at a 25% higher rate in occupations most exposed to AI.” (By “exposed,” it is referring to jobs which can easily be augmented with AI tools.) “To stay relevant in these occupations, workers will need to demonstrate or acquire new skills,” PwC continued.