Worried About AI? These Are The Top Skills Recruiters Are Looking For In 2024

The unveiling of ChatGPT at the tail end of 2022 was a disruptive moment for the world of work. It was immediately clear AI holds massive potential for business, but what about the downsides? 

When Goldman Sachs reported in March 2023 that AI could potentially lead to the automation of 300 million of today’s jobs, fear was immediately heightened.   

But a lot can change in a year. As 2023 progressed, surveys, reports and companies were starting to see the positive potential in AI. In turn, this has led to an understanding of the sorts of skills that people will need to keep up with AI in the workplace.  

Disruption and augmentation

The Economic Graph Research Institute (EGRI) has published insights that suggest more than half of LinkedIn members have jobs that could be disrupted or augmented by AI––and that the skill sets required for our jobs will change by up to 65% by 2030.  

We’re already seeing companies ensuring they have AI-specific roles. According to The Future of Work Report: AI at Work, the number of companies with a Head of AI position has grown by double digits since December 2022. 

But if you’re worried about the potential impacts of AI in your sector, what sorts of skills should you focus on?

AI-specific skills

Keeping up with relevant AI-related skills in your sector can be as basic as learning how generative AI––like ChatGPT or Midjourney––works.

From here, you can explore how you could use AI to enhance your role, rather than seeing it as a replacement for you. For example, ChatGPT is already being used by some firms for writing press releases, proof-reading content and creating customer surveys, clearing the way for employees to concentrate on other parts of the job. 

Increasingly, companies are looking to hire professionals with AI skills across both technical and non-technical roles, according to a Future of Work report for November 2023. 

It noted that even though demand for AI skills in technical roles such as software engineer, data scientist, and machine learning engineer has steadily risen since December 2022, “companies are increasingly looking to integrate professionals with AI literacy into non-technical roles like Supply Chain Specialist, Sustainability Manager, and Sales Manager”. 

The report also said that even though many AI jobs require AI skills like machine learning, deep learning, and data structures, most of those roles require a mix of AI and non-AI skills––like people skills. 

Soft skills on the rise

One of the greatest fears around AI is that certain jobs will become automated, and therefore obsolete. But even the most convincing generative AI does not have the soft skills that only humans possess. 

EGRI found that as workers adopt and employ generative AI tools, for example GPTs, “they will deepen their AI literacy and develop skills that are complementary to AI, especially people skills and specialized industry skills”.

It pointed out that as people reduce their time spent on some tasks, this will make “human-centric skills”––i.e. people skills––much more valuable and in-demand.

There is a gap between what AI can do, and what humans can do. Emphasizing your soft skills, like communication, leadership, and empathy, is key in showing recruiters you can help to bridge that gap. 

Another important soft skill is critical thinking. In addition, spotting and dealing with conscious and unconscious bias is a crucial part of the modern workplace. One of the fears around AI is how it can unwittingly replicate bias––but as a human, you have the skills and knowledge to tackle this head-on. 

AI’s impact on the world of work is still unknown, but there is a lot we can do with what we already know. 

Plus, we can bear in mind the words of economist Richard Baldwin: “AI won't take your job… It's somebody using AI that will take your job." The more you learn about AI, the more you can discover how these skills could help you grow your career.

If you’re looking to move to a company where you have the opportunity to upskill, visit the Benzinga Job Board.

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