Since the launch of ChatGPT, which has facilitated widespread AI adoption, there has been considerable discussion about its impact on employment.
While many jobs have seen increased productivity, others may face reduced demand, leading to lower wages and job losses.
A report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) warned that up to eight million jobs in the UK could be lost due to AI integration, particularly affecting part-time, entry-level, and back-office employment. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts that nearly 60% of jobs in advanced economies could be affected by AI, with a significant portion of these roles at risk of being automated.
AI has also brought about the creation of jobs, indicating that it is not necessarily reducing the number of jobs but is significantly altering them. There is increasing demand for jobs such as AI testers, programmers, software developers, as well as data scientists, engineers, and specialists. However, the changing pace of the jobs market is faster than producing the talent required to fill these roles, with reskilling historically being difficult. This has led to a growing concern that a skills shortage will make these hard to fill.
OpenAI AI jobs platform,
In response, OpenAI announced an AI jobs platform with learning and development features, poised to compete with LinkedIn. The platform will use AI to connect companies with candidates who have the requisite skills. OpenAI aims to continue its mission of ensuring AI benefits “all of humanity” by including a track dedicated to helping local businesses compete and enabling local governments to find the AI talent needed to better serve their constituents.
OpenAI also plans to expand its AI Academy by diversifying the levels of AI literacy for its OpenAI certifications. This initiative is aimed at upskilling and reskilling workers to increase access to jobs requiring AI expertise, as these skills make candidates more productive and valuable.
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By GlobalDataEmployment challenges
This approach will help to address an AI skills shortage by making training more accessible. However, the jobs created by AI are not direct replacements for the entry-level and back-office positions being eliminated. The new roles often require technical expertise and specialist training, complicating the job market, as the positions being phased out and those being created are very different and would not typically attract the same candidates, despite upskilling and reskilling efforts.
Additional challenges have emerged with the reduction in the number of graduate entry-level jobs, as companies seek cost savings by not employing graduates in lower-ranking roles. For instance, PwC has announced it will hire 200 fewer entry-level employees compared to 2024, due to the impacts of AI. This trend could lead to talent gaps in higher-level positions later on, where future generations lack adequate experience and training.
