The future of work is already among us. With the increasing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation in various sectors, the job market is undergoing a significant transformation. Companies are increasingly seeking professionals with a set of skills that go beyond the technical and make them more adapted to an increasingly digital and complex world.
In this reality accompanied by the most advanced technological means, there is no longer a separation between the human side and the digital. In other words, tools and software are becoming full-fledged team members, not just mere means to achieve goals and objectives. The trend, from what we observe, is to have more and more a metamorphosis of roles and responsibilities, as well as the emergence of teams composed of humans and AI, thus challenging traditional organizational structures and ways of working.
This scenario leads to many discussions about the possible economic challenges of technology for companies and workers. Some argue that the economic significance of human work will diminish with the advances of AI, which will take on a greater number of tasks in the coming years. Within this logic, many socio-economic aspects will be brought up, such as the devaluation of skills, income distribution, and the creation of new economic structures.
I don’t place myself in this somewhat pessimistic field. We are still far from an AI fully capable of performing important functions, either in the job market or in life in general. It still produces a lot of inaccurate content, even with increasingly robust language models. What makes it powerful is its association precisely with the human mind, capable of curating and endorsing the results produced by this and other technologies. Without the human aspect, we may end up with a bunch of tools of limited or little use.
For those who, like me, recognize that the future of work has already arrived, it is worth reinforcing what is coming. AI or technology will not take away anyone’s jobs; we must remove that kind of logic from the path. However, this new reality around the market demands a new set of skills, no matter your area of expertise. So, by developing these skills, you will be better prepared to face the challenges and seize the opportunities that the labor world offers.
There are numbers to help illustrate what I mean. One in ten professionals hired this year holds a position that did not exist 24 years ago, according to a LinkedIn study, which mentions functions that are now common like Sustainability Manager, AI Engineer, Data Scientist, Social Media Manager, and Customer Success Manager, but were not the most well-known, sought-after (or even existing) in 2000.
The world’s leading companies understand this. A series of CEOs surveyed in an IBM study stated that people are and will continue to make all the difference in their businesses, but at least 35% of the workforce will need to undergo recycling and requalification processes in the next three years – a significant increase from the 6% recorded three years ago. In other words, we are not just talking about productivity gains and cost reduction when it comes to AI.
Another proof that the future of work – or maybe here it can also be the work of the future – is a strategic inevitability is the lack of qualified professionals in some fields of the economy and business. Therefore, as important as investing in the training of those already in your organization is being able to become a “talent magnet,” and for that, initiatives such as trust in leadership, remote and hybrid work opportunities, compensation, and actions supporting careers and diversity emerge as relevant.
Some studies point to successful cases of those who, in the corporate environment, are willing to be flexible, resilient, and capable of transforming. According to a report, almost 30% of listed companies are successful in adopting innovation-focused work models, with cutting-edge technologies and a flexible and distributed workforce. These companies have 30% lower operating expenses, thanks to automation and improved processes, with positive financial gains for 57% of them.
Like any change, it can often be uncertain and cause a series of fears. The same LinkedIn research says that 49% of workers fear being left behind, with 64% stating that they are overwhelmed by the speed of changes at work (in Brazil, this figure rises to 87%). However, the number of professionals seeking additional courses and qualifications is also on the rise – 79% of Brazilians highlight this search in their areas.
AI is rapidly transforming the way we interact with technology and complex issues. As important as the dilemmas regarding its regulation and governance is also the meaning of human work, a piece that will remain a cornerstone in this equation that incorporates digital power and basic human values. This way, skills will remain in demand, as long as there is a willingness to reinvent oneself.
