Is your job under threat from AI? Here’s what we know now
USA TODAY’s money reporter Rachel Barber looks at how AI is impacting the U.S. job market.
The job market is tight, and whether you’re a student considering whether to go to university or specialize, or an experienced working professional looking to change jobs, you should think about the long-term viability of your future career path.
There are also concerns that technological advances such as robotics and artificial intelligence will disrupt the workforce and make some jobs obsolete. Other factors such as demographics, economic growth, and infrastructure expansion will also influence the future job market.
“There is no profession that will not be affected by artificial intelligence and automation,” said Anu Madgavkar, a partner at McKinsey Global Institute. “Whatever job you have over the next five to seven years, you can expect it to have some interaction with artificial intelligence and automation.”
However, more than one-third of all jobs in the United States are “people-centered.” (erase and) the future of work will require workers to combine human and technology skill sets, added Madgavkar, co-author of the recently published study “Agents, Robots, and Us: Skills Partnerships in the Age of AI.”
Are you worried about technology and AI?
Madgavkar warns that even practical jobs that only humans can perform, from customer service to construction, will be influenced by technology and artificial intelligence.
Madgavkar said future workers will need to be familiar with technology and AI, whether they are just starting their career or have years of experience in a particular field.
People will need to continuously improve their skills. AI and robots can be used to perform more boring and time-consuming tasks, allowing people to be more creative, thoughtful, and efficient. She explained that what employees need is AI fluency and technical fluency, not the technical skills to write code, but the ability to interact with technology to guide, tweak, and improve it.
“Companies that are building businesses will improve their businesses by working with technology, and as we speak, they are inventing and reinventing new ways of working,” she said.
Still, she said, humans will remain at the center of the work.. There are skills that are transferable across industries and fields, such as strong communication, the ability to manage and motivate others, and a talent for identifying and solving problems. All of these skills help add value beyond what automation is capable of.
“Many of our human skills will remain important, even though a huge amount of work may be taken over by technology,” Madgavkar said. “Human skills will be prioritized, and we need to leverage them with the added power of AI fluency.”
What is your future job?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, many of the fastest-growing occupations are in health care and social services, and these jobs cannot be outsourced or automated. Trade and technical jobs that require practical skills will also be in high demand.
Here are some career paths to consider.
health care
As Americans’ healthcare needs continue to grow as the population ages, the demand for healthcare workers will increase. The level of education and training required varies widely, including doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, physical therapists, and occupational therapists.
There are also administrative jobs in the medical field, such as hospital, medical facility, and senior citizen facility administrators, medical consultants, recruiters, office managers, and health insurance claims processors.
And the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that teachers will also be needed in areas such as business administration, administration, and clinical practice to train future health care workers.
In the BLS data framework, the health sector includes outpatient medical services (e.g., ambulatory care). The social assistance sector covers individual and family services, community food and shelter, emergency and other relief services, vocational rehabilitation services, and child care services.
Contributed by: Rachel Barber, Daniel de Visé, USA TODAY
