The rise of AI leaves plenty of uncertainty around technology being able to replace worker tasks and there being large scale displacement of workers across the globe (Hatzius et al., 2023). A recent Gallup poll reported that 75% of U.S. adults believe that AI will result in significantly fewer jobs (Marken, 2023). This puts to light the value that human employees bring to businesses and how quickly our roles are evolving with the turning of tides.
Two sides of the coin: Reduction and Reinvention
In recent years, GenAI technology has grown so rapidly and has been widely adopted across a variety of industries in the global market. Everyone and their mother is raving about AI! And who wouldn’t, when it is creating enormous value for businesses in the way that it is able to replicate human capabilities, including customer interaction, problem solving, decision-making, language and persuasion, among others (Salari et al., 2026). AI is capable of performing tasks that are challenging for humans– therefore, it does not come as a surprise that 72% of employers anticipate reduced headcount required in the workforce due to AI adoption (Digital Education Council, 2025).
Studies show that job displacement was primarily observed among workers with limited digital capabilities, while positive productivity is seen among those with more advanced digital skills. The other side of the AI coin tells us that digital transformation across industries will allow for new roles to emerge– 62% of employers anticipate new roles driven by AI, reflecting optimism that job creation within their sectors is only expected to rise (Digital Education Council, 2025).
Why High-Impact Workforce Training Matters more than ever
The World Economic Forum (2025) estimates that nearly 60% of workers will require reskilling by 2030 as AI, automation, and digital transformation reshape workforce requirements. Deloitte Access Economics and RMIT Online (2024) project Australia alone will require approximately 1.8 million additional technology-related skill capabilities by 2030. At the same time, organizations are reporting low engagement and weak knowledge retention from static, one-size-fits-all e-learning models, driving demand for more personalized, role-specific, and workflow-integrated learning solutions (Noe & Kodwani, 2018). These challenges are further compounded by uneven digital infrastructure and learning technology maturity across APAC markets.
Whether or not the rise of AI will spell the difference between employee engagement and endless recruitment cycles failing to address a widening skills gap will largely depend on your company’s investment in its people. From building core technical capabilities to strengthening in human-centric skills that hone critical thinking, leadership and decision-making skills– recent studies emphasize that organizations that train and upskill their workers fastest will outlearn and outperform their competitors, directly impacting long-term business resilience.
References
Deloitte Access Economics, & RMIT Online. (2024). The economic impact of digital skills in Australia. Deloitte Access Economics.
Digital Education Council. (2025). Global AI workforce and education trends report 2025. Digital Education Council.
Hatzius, J., Briggs, J., Kodnani, D., & Pierce, G. (2023). The potentially large effects of artificial intelligence on economic growth. Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research.
Marken, S. (2023, August 28). Americans largely expect AI to reduce jobs. Gallup. https://news.gallup.com/poll/510551/americans-largely-expect-reduce-jobs.aspx
Noe, R. A., & Kodwani, A. D. (2018). Employee training and development (7th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
Salari, N., Beiromvand, M., Hosseinian-Far, A., Habibi, J., Babajani, F., & Mohammadi, M. (2025). Impacts of generative artificial intelligence on the future of labor market: A systematic review. Computers in Human Behavior Reports, 18, Article 100652. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chbr.2025.100652
World Economic Forum. (2025). The future of jobs report 2025. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/reports/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025