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- 94% of HR leaders predict new entry-level job creation as a result of AI
- Most see these roles evolving into AI supervisor roles
- Soft skills are most in-demand, training isn't keeping up
Although AI has proven to automate some of the lowest-value work, making it difficult for recent graduates to find jobs, new Cognizant and Pearson joint research suggests this could just be a temporary effect that could all be about to change, with an overwhelming majority (94%) of HR leaders expecting AI to create entirely new entry-level jobs in the next five years.
But the definition of entry-level work is also undergoing a change, with 96% believing they will evolve into supervisory and managerial roles.
More than 90% say middle managers will end up playing a critical role in redesigning these jobs and defining what work looks like.
Entry-level roles aren't going, they're just changing
A similarly high number (91%) of HR leaders have reported that employee demand for AI training has increased over the past year as junior workers seek opportunities to manage AI systems, however with only half (54%) of organizations providing AI training, they're not being supported.
As for graduates themselves, the most in-demand skills no longer come from specialized degrees. Nearly all (97%) hirers think adaptability, problem-solving and human judgment are now more important.
The report argues that organizations need to rethink how they support employees throughout their careers, but 60% admit their learning and development programs can't keep page with AI's pace.
"As work evolves, the most successful organizations will focus less on replacing tasks and more on building the capabilities that help humans and AI work together," Pearson CHRO Ali Bebo said.
While the study concludes that entry-level workers and graduates may not be at as much risk as they'd thought from AI, they could stand out from taking charge of their own upskilling as employers struggle to keep up.
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