While there is fear of job displacement due to advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), the 2024 Work Trend Index Annual Report from Microsoft and LinkedIn highlights that AI is not replacing jobs but transforming them. The catch, however, is that many people’s next job might be a role that doesn’t yet exist, according to the report.
The report indicates that globally, skills are projected to change by 50% by 2030, with generative AI expected to accelerate this change to 68%. More than two-thirds (68%) of this year’s LinkedIn’s Jobs on the rise—representing the fastest-growing roles in the US—didn’t exist 20 years ago. Additionally, 12% of recruiters have stated they are already creating new roles specifically tied to the use of generative AI.
This comprehensive study is based on a survey of 31,000 individuals across 31 countries, offering a global perspective on the evolving job market.
The report further highlights a significant concern among leaders about their ability to fill key roles. A striking 66% of leaders admit they wouldn’t hire someone without AI skills. Furthermore, 71% of these leaders would prefer to hire a less experienced candidate who has AI skills over a more experienced candidate without them.
As a result of these preferences, there has been a 160% spike in the use of LinkedIn Learning courses designed to build AI aptitude over the past six months. This surge is most noticeable among non-technical professionals, including project managers, architects, and administrative assistants, who are keen to enhance their skills.
“We’ve also seen a 142x increase in LinkedIn members globally adding AI skills like ChatGPT and Copilot to their profiles—with writers, designers, and marketers topping the list,” according to the report.
The optimism about AI is particularly strong in India, where 92% of knowledge workers use AI at work, compared to the global average of 75%. Furthermore, 91% of leaders in India believe their companies need to adopt AI to stay competitive, but 54% are concerned that their organizations lack a clear plan and vision for AI implementation.
While leaders are under pressure to convert individual productivity gains into broader organizational impact, employees are not waiting around. In India, 72% of AI users bring their own AI tools to work, demonstrating that people are actively using AI to become more productive and creative at work.
Further, on the sidelines of the report, Microsoft announced new capabilities in Copilot for Microsoft 365 to help people get started with AI, and LinkedIn announced over 50 learning courses that are being made free to empower professionals at all levels to advance AI aptitude.
