92% of ICT roles are expected to undergo big changes as a result of advancements in AI and the tech jobs continue to transform the information and communications (ICT) sector according to a new report from tech giants, Cisco, Microsoft and Google.
The AI-enabled ICT Workforce Consortium, led by Cisco has published the “Transformational Opportunity of AI on ICT Jobs” report – offering guidance on the areas for of concern for workers to reskill in response to the evolving job landscape.
This transformation will impact professionals in 47 ICT roles, including cybersecurity, data science and software development. Entry-level and mid-level ICT professionals are at the forefront of this AI transformation with 40% of mid-level positions and 37% of entry level expected to see high levels of transformation.
The report also reveals a 323% increase in the demand for AI-skilled talent over the past eight years, backing up a previous study by the World Economic Forum showing that 58% of employees will see significant changes in their roles in the next five years due to AI and big data advancements.
The rapid development of AI tools such as ChatGPT highlights the increasing importance of specific skills like AI ethics and large language models, while basic programming and language skills are becoming less crucial.
The UK government has committed to reskilling existing job roles through a £6.4 million Flexible AI Upskilling Fund, aiming to close the skills gap in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the country.
Comments from leaders in the industry:
Sheila Flavell CBE, COO of FDM Group said: “Upskilling and reskilling have always been central to workplace training to empower staff to maximise the latest developments in technology and innovative thinking, and the AI wave is the latest cycle driving this. AI isn’t here to displace jobs, it’s here to transform them, augmenting the work that staff are doing through automation and freeing them up for higher-value activity.”
Laura Lodwick, Chief for UK Talent for AND Digital, said: “As businesses continue to jump on the AI train, it’s essential they invest in digital skills training, upskilling and reskilling to enable staff to keep up with the evolving landscape. AI can bring transformational benefits, but not without the right oversight and skills to maximise its benefits in a safe and trustworthy way. When businesses invest in AI development and adoption, that should come alongside staff training, taking a people and innovation approach to ensure that staff feel comfortable as their roles evolve.”
To address the skills gap, Cisco plans to train 25 million people in cybersecurity and digital skills by 2032. Other tech giants are following this with IBM aiming to upskill 30 million people by 2030, including 2 million in 2026 and Microsoft set to train and certify 10 million people in digital skills by 2025.
