Strengthen these work skills amid the AI boom
As new university graduates join the workforce, these are key skills employers look for during the AI boom.
AI is changing the workplace quickly. Even top performers can be left behind if they can’t keep up. That can mean learning new AI tools, developing different skill sets, or pivoting into completely new roles. No matter your industry, adaptability is becoming as important as experience.
According to LinkedIn’s 2025 Job Change Report, 70% of the skills used in jobs today are projected to evolve by 2030, and AI plays a key role in this shift. It’s not just about staying relevant, it’s about working hard. It’s about adapting smarter.
Below are five practical ways to stay ahead of the AI-driven job market. From resumes and proficiency to rethinking your career strategy.
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intentionally upskill
One of the most effective ways to stay relevant in the AI-driven job market is to expand your new skill set and expand your current skill set to meet new demand. But it’s not just about adding more tools to your belt. It’s about choosing the right one.
For example, engineers who are already analyzing data may mature by learning Python, a programming language. Or a new machine learning platform.
“Many engineers who joined the workforce in the past decade didn’t know Python, but they had the basic skills to learn Python,” says the author of Career Career: Navigating strategies for new roles and success in promotions.,“Dr. Sweta Migrani. The foundation made it easier and more impactful, she explains.
The payoff is clear. The 2025 analysis and workforce by the Georgetown University Education Center found that workers earn middle-skills training (more training than high school diplomas are less than their bachelor’s degree), especially in high-demand sectors such as STEM, management and protective services.
Take home: Upskills are no longer an option. This is a strategic investment in staying employed. Identify the skills that are emerging in your field, look for short courses, certifications, or internal training opportunities, and fill in the gaps before they grow.
Reskill to maintain relevance
While upskills help you grow within your current role, reskills prepare you to move into a new role within your current industry or another industry as job demands evolve. In a job market where AI has been destroyed, it may be the smartest move of all.
“The reskill is when you have a group of people and their jobs are changing,” explains Dr. Migrani.
This is more than just virtual. It’s already happening. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2023 Future of Jobs report, 60% of workers need training to meet the evolving job demand by 2027, but only half of employees are currently able to access the right training opportunities.
In early 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a grant of approximately $200 million to expand registered apprenticeship programs in areas such as clean energy, IT, healthcare and advanced manufacturing. In 2025, a new executive order was followed, aiming to further expand apprenticeships and training programs by streamlining federal workforce development efforts and encouraging wider industry participation.
Employers are also investing in transforming the workforce. For example, consider manufacturing. As automation increases, companies do not want to lose long-time employees who have no necessarily valuable institutional knowledge and relationships.
“They put them in a two- to three-month program where they are exposed, reskill them and make their job descriptions different,” says Dr. Migrani.
result? The company may eliminate the title “Manual Manufacturing Engineer” and create a new one. “AI manufacturing engineer. ”
Take home: If your current job is changing, reskilling is an important way to prevent your career in the future and avoid being left behind. Dr. Migrani recommends checking in with your manager or team leader to understand which roles are evolving, which skills are needed next, and how you can go ahead of the curve.
Use accessible (and affordable) learning tools
One of the most effective and affordable ways to stay competitive and up-to-date in today’s workplace is to leverage learning tools built for new technologies. Platforms such as LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, Coursera and Udacity offer pay-as-you-go courses that make AI tools more accessible.
“Many courses on these platforms are created in collaboration with leaders from top universities and industry leaders, so listing them on your resume gives you initiative and preparation for the next role,” says Migrani.
In addition to external resources, many employers also offer internal tools. Some employer platforms, such as Workday and SuccessFactors, include AI-driven capabilities that track skills, recommend training, and emphasize employee contributions. These tools help employers align workforce development with business goals.
Take home: Affordable online courses and AI-powered workplace tools allow you to build more in-demand skills than ever before and stay competitive in the rapidly evolving job market.
Get a mentor
Mentoring is another valuable (and often free) way of growth to grow, especially when you navigate how AI reshapes your role.
“Mentering is something I really value. It’s an opportunity for them to talk to people who have been there, whether in your organization, your industry, or even in different countries,” says Migrani.
Take home: Mentors can help and provide advice to understand that they will shift expectations and to provide advice on how to adapt their role when AI is more integrated.
I embrace the growth mindset
Relevant to AI in the workplace also means adopting the right mindset. As Migrani says, “If you say it, ‘Oh, I went there, I did it’ and you’re closing your door.”
Whether you’re skilled, reskilled, or guidance, growth mindsets can help you learn, adapt and stay with AI-driven workplace changes.
By adopting growth, we ensure that your skills are tailored to both the evolving needs of your company and the future of the work itself. In a world reshaped by AI, curiosity, continuous learning and adaptability are your best career insurance.
(This story has been updated with nomination links.)
