AI Specials

Effects of AI on the labor market

By
Florian Hasibar
November 14, 2024
4
Min read
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AI Specials

Automation creates space for strategy and creativity

ChatGPT & Co. take on repetitive tasks — from accounting to customer service — and increase productivity by 40%. Automation may replace some jobs, but at the same time it creates new, more demanding tasks.

New jobs are booming — and need new skills

The AI boom brings new professional fields such as prompt engineering or AI ethics to the agenda. The demand for AI talent is increasing rapidly — over 450% more job postings compared to the previous year.

Continuing education is not an extra — it's a survival strategy

More than 70% of managers are planning to invest in AI training. Employees are looking for learning opportunities on their own — out of concern that they will lose touch. Companies that now invest in training are securing know-how and trust.

Klarna shows: AI pays off — when people get involved

At Klarna, AI is already replacing thousands of working hours in customer service and saving 40 million USD per year. Yet 87% of employees are actively using AI — success is based on continuing education, not just technology.

Table of contents

Automate routine tasks

One of the biggest changes that AI is bringing is automating repetitive and rule-based tasks. Activities that were previously carried out by people — such as data entry, simple accounting processes or answering customer inquiries — can now be carried out faster and more efficiently by machines. ChatGPT increases work productivity by 40% and saves 21 minutes per hour. (MIT) As a result, companies can increase efficiency and reduce costs at the same time.

However, automation does not necessarily mean job cuts. It is true that there will be job cuts in some industries, particularly in areas where tasks can be easily automated. By 2025, 85 million jobs could be replaced by automation, but 97 million new jobs will also be created. (World Economic Forum) At the same time, automation also makes it possible to create new, more demanding tasks that can be taken over by people. The aim should always be to relieve people of monotonous tasks and to create more space for creative and strategic activities.

Emergence of new professional fields

While AI is changing or even replacing many traditional occupations, it also provides the basis for new career fields. Professions such as data scientists, AI developers or “prompt engineers” — experts who specialize in optimally controlling AI systems through targeted input requests — have become increasingly important in recent years. The number of job postings in the area of generative AI has risen by more than 450% compared to the previous year alone. (Computerworld) However, these occupations require new, specialized skills that are not yet widely used today.

In addition, there will be a growing need for professionals who not only have technical knowledge but are also able to address ethical and social issues related to AI. Issues such as data protection, fair algorithms or the prevention of discrimination through AI are decisive aspects that will play a central role in the future.

A challenge for workers

The changes that AI brings represent a challenge, especially for employees. Competition from machines is particularly noticeable in areas with low-skilled jobs. Employees who do not respond in time to the newn Set requirements, there is a risk of being replaced by automated systems. In the last 12 months, 57% of employees and 89% of managers sought external learning content to use AI, and many paid for it themselves. (spring) This underlines the pressure to continue learning so as not to lose touch with technological change.

This development also contributes to growing social inequality in the labor market: While highly qualified specialists benefit from AI development and can work in new, well-paid occupations, low-skilled workers often have greater difficulties adapting and finding new employment opportunities.

Continuing education and retraining are key

In order to counteract this development, comprehensive training of employees is essential. The key to success is giving people the skills they need in a working world shaped by AI. More than half of all C-level representatives of large companies see some catching up to do when it comes to AI training for their employees. (deloitte) This includes not only technical skills, but also the ability to use AI systems effectively and critically question their results.

Lifelong learning is therefore becoming a central requirement. 72% of executives believe that their company should invest in artificial intelligence learning and development programs over the next 1-2 years. (Computerworld) Companies must offer their employees continuing education opportunities.

Just for that, offers mytalents.ai tailor-made continuing education programs that are specifically tailored to the requirements of a working world characterized by AI. As a leading learning platform in the area of AI upskilling, we understand that it's not just about technical knowledge, but also about enabling employees to critically question and make optimal use of AI systems.

Through our varied and always up-to-date range of courses, we create real added value for companies and their teams. mytalents.ai helps companies to make their employees fit for the future and remain competitive in the long term. With training that covers both technological and safety-related aspects of AI, we help to increase efficiency and address the shortage of skilled workers.

Your benefits with mytalents.ai:

  • employee efficiency: Our training allows your teams to make the most of AI tools and maximize their productivity.
  • Overcoming the shortage of skilled workers: Through targeted AI training, you can use existing personnel capacities more effectively and reduce requirements in the company.
  • Safe use of AI: We not only provide expertise, but also train how to use data and AI systems securely so that your company meets the highest data protection standards.

Social Responsibility and Ethical Issues

In addition to economic aspects, the increasing spread of AI also raises social and ethical issues. 78 percent of AI users bring their own AI tools to work, which raises serious data protection issues. (microsoft).

According to a study by Accenture, 58% of employees fear that AI could jeopardize their jobs, while only 29% of managers share this concern (Accenture). This mismatch shows how important it is to take workers' fears seriously and build trust in AI technologies through targeted training and transparency.

How can we ensure that AI systems are fair and transparent? How can we prevent certain population groups from being disadvantaged by AI? And how can we make the transition to a working world shaped by AI in a socially responsible way?

These questions must be answered not only by companies, but also by governments and society as a whole. It's about making the benefits of AI available to everyone while minimizing potential risks.

Case study: How did Klarna implement AI?

Klarna is a Swedish payment service provider that is primarily known for its “Buy Now, Pay Later” services. The company has implemented AI on multiple levels to improve efficiency and customer experience (source: https://www.klarna.com/international/press/der-ki-kundenassistent-von-klarna-bearbeitet-im-ersten-monat-zwei-drittel-aller-kundendienst-anfragen/):

Effects of AI implementation at Klarna

  • Customer service: An AI assistant now processes 2.3 million inquiries per month, which accounts for two thirds of all customer inquiries. The processing time dropped from 11 to 2 minutes.
  • Staff reductions: The AI assistant replaces the work of around 700 full-time employees. The total workforce fell from around 5,000 to 3,800 jobs, with a possible further reduction to 2,000 in the future.
  • Internal efficiency: 85% of employees use “Kiki,” an internal AI assistant that answers 2,000 inquiries a day. 87% of employees use generative AI in their daily work.
  • Financial benefits: Klarna expects a profit increase of around 40 million US dollars in 2024 through the use of the AI assistant. Agency costs worldwide were reduced by 25%.

Despite these changes, employees don't have to be afraid of implementing AI. Rather, it is important to continuously educate yourself and acquire new skills in order to remain successful in the changing world of work. The willingness to continue education will be decisive in order to make the most of the opportunities offered by AI.

Conclusion: AI as an opportunity and challenge

The impact of AI on the labor market is profound and complex. 78% of companies say that AI has created more jobs. (Digital Information World) It offers enormous opportunities to increase productivity and create new, exciting career fields. At the same time, it presents employees and society with major challenges that must be overcome. Companies should already develop clear strategies to master the transition to the AI-driven working world. This includes not only the introduction of AI tools, but also investing in the training of their workforce. Companies that embark on this path early on will be more competitive and innovative in the long term.

Only by specifically promoting education, retraining and social responsibility can we ensure that the benefits of AI technology are available to everyone and not just to a few.

mytalents.ai helps you to successfully master the transition to an AI-driven working world. With our tailor-made continuing education programs, we help to effectively use the opportunities offered by AI and prepare the workforce for the new requirements. By specifically promoting continuing education and retraining, we are helping to make the benefits of AI technology available to everyone and help companies to ensure their competitiveness in a changing world of work.

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