Efforts to close the digital skills gap are gaining ground but the future of work expects more from today’s employers.
The launch of ChatGPT became the iPhone moment of technology. From AI being aspirational, it became something that everyone wanted to use.
Tech enterprises are poised to harness AI’s transformative power, not just internally but as a catalyst for customer innovation. AI transcends mere technology; it’s a synergy of human ingenuity, cultural evolution, streamlined processes, and strategic business integration.
To fully unlock AI’s potential, a harmonious alignment of these facets is essential. Yet, bridging the pervasive skills gap remains the most formidable challenge in this quest. In the dynamic landscape of AI and automation, businesses are pouring vast resources into upskilling initiatives.
Yet, beyond the financial investment, there lies a deeper obligation to enrich their workforce’s capabilities, ensuring that every individual is empowered to thrive in the unfolding era of digital transformation
It’s heartening to know that some 71% of global organisations are prioritising upskilling and training existing employees rather than erase them in favour of an AI-enabled solution. In the US, companies spent a record $100 billion and counting on learning and development for their people in 2022.
AI + human intelligence
In 2022, the European Union invested a significant amount in research and development, with expenditures reaching €355 billion. This R&D expenditure represented 2.24% of the EU’s GDP for that year, marking an increase from 2.08% in 20121. While this figure encompasses all R&D activities and not solely learning and development, it indicates a strong commitment to advancing knowledge and skills across the region.
Yet, despite such vast sums, it’s somewhat of a drop in the ocean when in just three years’ time, six out of 10 employees will need to acquire new skills to perform their jobs.
However, only about half of them will have access to the necessary training. No wonder 30% of employees worldwide fear that AI might replace their jobs within the next three years.
My feeling is that the businesses who will make truly exponential leaps forward are those that not only harness artificial intelligence, and the data insights it can reveal, but manage to combine this technology with the limitless potential of human talent and innovative spirit.
For whilst there is a nervousness about AI, there is also anticipation. 70% of people are excited about AI — according to research by Boston Consulting Group — with 60% having confidence in AI’s ability to help them progress in their learning and education
“Whilst there is a nervousness about AI, there is also anticipation.”
AI: friend, not foe
There has been a surge in job postings requesting AI-related skills; global recruiter Randstad saw a 2,000% increase in such ads last year. Upskilling is a worthy investment to meet such demand, and it’s an area that Sopra Steria champions with the rolling out of our own initiatives.
Our programme, ‘AI For All’, is aimed at upskilling all employees on AI and making them aware of the impact, the advantages, disadvantages et all. In addition to that we also deliver nuanced, specialised training to apply artificial intelligence tools to advance in various specialisations.
For example, for developers, that could include prompt engineering training. For architects, the training could be best practices on reference architecture, and, in leadership, the focus might be on AI for business competencies.
Since technology is always evolving, continuous learning needs to be a focal point and every organisation should be giving their employees the resources to help them stay ahead. Those that don’t will surely fall behind.
Upskilling is a business imperative
As is so often the case in business, money talks. According to a recent Microsoft study, for every €1 a company invests in AI, it gets an average return of €3.50, proving AI’s demonstrable business value. To turn this powerful tool into profit, however, requires the right people with the right skillsets.
“To turn this powerful tool into profit requires the right people with the right skillsets.”
Organisations that upskill their workforce to make the most of their AI and automation investments will see considerable business benefits. Let’s take Generative AI, for example.
Almost two-thirds of respondents to a McKinsey survey reported that their organisations are regularly using Generative AI. This surely goes hand in hand with findings that Generative AI improves a highly-skilled employee's performance by as much as 40% compared to an employee who is not using it.
A global movement
Just as the impact of AI is being felt worldwide, so too is the digital skills gap. Encouraging efforts are being made to bridge it. Some 36 major German companies are teaming up to retrain their workers.
Japan is investing ¥400 billion over three years to reskill 1 million workers. The World Economic Forum’s Reskilling Revolution platform aims to reach 600 million people to future-proof their careers with digital skills in AI, Big Data and programming.
The UK offers a somewhat gloomy picture of a digitally disenfranchised workforce, in comparison to European front runners like France and Spain.
Despite government press releases touting how the UK will become a tech powerhouse by 2030, it currently lags 45th out of 109 countries in a global report looking at skill proficiency trends.
Still, there are signs of change, and I am gladdened to see the uptake in AI upskilling; the UK has seen 961% growth in this field over the last 12 months.
Even though this is lower than the global average, the indicators of an appetite to harness artificial intelligence are at least there. Now, professionals just need more doors to open for them to be able to take full advantage of this technology.
Globally, more than half (52%) of people believe AI will help to advance their career growth and put them on the path to promotion. Whilst this may be true, it is their employers who must be the true catalysts for change, embracing not just artificial intelligence but an authentic dedication to developing people’s full potential.
AI will touch every aspect of our lives. From the way we work to the way we interact. Nothing will remain untouched. I can proudly claim that we at Sopra Steria have the potential to redefine the landscape completely.
