The AI-Ready Workforce Transformation Blueprint: Prepare for the Future

The Endless Assault of Technology

As long as there have been jobs for humans to do, people have invented technology to take those jobs away. Workers have rarely responded positively.

In 17th century London, silk weavers led a 3-day riot across the city, smashing and burning machine looms that had begun to replace handloom weaving. They successfully delayed mechanization within the industry for nearly a century but discontent boiled over again following innovations in the early 1800s. Further riots were inspired by the mythical character of Ned Ludd, whose followers proudly bore a name that is now a common term for those distrustful of new technology: 'Luddites'.

More recently, when automatic teller machines were introduced in the 1970s, there was a pervasive fear of mass unemployment for bank tellers. If people could deposit a check or withdraw cash using a machine, what use would there be for a human?

Supply, Demand, Shock

Contrary to expectation, the introduction of technology within these sectors actually led to more jobs, not less.

James Bessen, author of 'Learning by Doing: The Real Connection between Innovation, Wages, and Wealth' explains that although ATMs led to a reduction in the number of human tellers per bank from 21 to 13, the total number of tellers within the economy actually increased! ATMs significantly reduced branch operating costs, enabling banks to open more locations and hire twice as many tellers over the next 40 years.

Image credit: 'Learning by Doing', James Bessen

This story echoes that of the textile industry; automation massively reduced costs of production, leading to a reduction in the price of cloth, an increase in consumer demand and a rise in the number of people employed in the sector. 

Indeed, Bessen claims, this same pattern has been realized throughout history: cashier jobs increased following the introduction of scanning technology in cash registers, and paralegal employment grew after electronic discovery software was introduced.

Of course, a few stubborn individuals were unable or unwilling to change and dropped out of the workforce, but the vast majority of laborers in each of these sectors simply adapted to the new status quo, learned new skills and continued on with their careers.

Jobs were not being created or lost, job tasks were changing.

The Impact of AI on 'Professional' Work

As we enter 2024, technology is at it again.

The launch of ChatGPT just over 12 months ago had the world equal parts excited and terrified. Depending on who you ask, AI is either a) completely inconsequential, b) going to help us build a utopian society, or c) the first step towards human extinction.

Each of these scenarios is possible, but none are likely. Anybody who says they know for sure how things are going to shake out is lying. It's simply to early to tell.

With that said, there has been plenty of early research into the potential effects of artificial intelligence on the future of work.

According to a paper produced by a team of researchers from OpenAI, OpenResearch, and the University of Pennsylvania, "80% of the U.S. workforce could have at least 10% of their work tasks affected by the introduction of LLMs, while approximately 19% of workers may see at least 50% of their tasks impacted... with higher-income jobs potentially facing greater exposure".

In a recent study by the UK's Department for Education, researchers similarly concluded that - unlike prior technological disruptions in which "low-skilled" labor has born the brunt of job impacts - "employees with more advanced qualifications are typically in jobs more exposed to AI", with a vast array of professions at risk; from management consultants and business analysts to accountants, psychologists and teachers.

Image credit: UK Department for Education

Preparing for an Unknown Future

It's understandable that workers would be worried by this news, particularly if they have thousands of dollars of student loan debt - how on earth will they repay it?

As business leaders, we have a responsibility to acknowledge the concerns of our employees and prepare them for the future, even if we are unsure what it will look like. 

Jobs for the Future (JFF) recently developed a framework to help employers reshape jobs to focus on tasks that are best performed by humans while still enabling their businesses to capitalize on the promise of AI.

The AI-Ready Workforce Transformation Blueprint

The 'AI-Ready Workforce Transformation Blueprint' maps out critical steps to ensure the equitable preparation of all stakeholders for the coming AI transformation, and is a simple framework around which business leaders can begin to demystify the impact of the technology.

Preparing Humans

• Universal AI Literacy: Provide AI training and education for all learners and workers, promoting lifelong learning and the development of durable human skills.
• Worker Voice and Engagement: Encourage worker experimentation with AI technology; empower them to adopt and learn from innovations and ensure leaders pay attention to promising ideas.

Preparing Institutions

• Organization Culture and Leadership: Foster cultures that embrace and adapt to technology-driven change, prioritize innovation, and support workers.
• Industry-Specific Training and Upskilling Strategy: Integrate industry-specific AI literacy training at all levels, focusing on enhancing skills and expanding pathways for AI talent.
• Technology Infrastructure: Upgrade technology infrastructure to responsibly integrate AI into daily work and assess its impact.
• Data and Evaluation: Use next-gen labor market intelligence to understand how AI is reshaping job demand and talent landscape.

Preparing Ecosystems

• Workforce Planning: Establish systems and platforms to assess and reshape jobs and training pathways for AI-driven changes. Prioritize flexible, human-centered job profiles and support job-crafting strategies to adapt to shifting demands. Accelerate the adoption of skills-first hiring and talent mobility practices.
• Policy: Support policies for transforming business and workforce systems, developing new skills and talents, and assisting transitioning workers.
• Public and Private Investment: Invest in AI and technology deployment to create new jobs and industries.
• Education-to-Career Systems: Collaborate with public and private partners to assess talent needs, co-create skill development offerings, and engage in cross-industry collaboration on AI-workforce development.

Image Credit: Jobs for the Future

Change as an Opportunity

It's not clear what the short-term impact of artificial intelligence will be on the world of work, and there are no guarantees how things will turn out for you, me, or anybody else.

Some leaders will ride the wave whilst others will fall under it. Some companies will be catapulted ahead whilst others stagnate. Some workers will adapt whilst others will be made redundant.

There are no guarantees - but this is not our first rodeo. We've crossed this bridge before and have always made it to the other side. The future may not be clear, but we have the tools to help us prepare.

In the midst of these uncertainties, our resilience and willingness to learn new skills will be key to navigating the evolving landscape of work.

As Steve Jobs once said, "innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity, not a threat."