Sheldon Anthony IO

Let's face it, running a tech business in 2024 feels like walking a tightrope over a piranha tank. You need the agility of a circus performer to keep pace with the ever-evolving landscape of AI and automation. But here's the real kicker: your trusty team, the folks who built your company from the ground up, might not be equipped for this new high-wire act. Reskilling your workforce isn't just about survival, it's about unlocking a future of explosive growth. By investing in your people, you're not just filling skill gaps, you're building a culture of continuous learning and adaptation. This translates into a more agile, innovative, and future-proof organization – a tech leader, not a follower.

Imagine a world where jobs vanish overnight, replaced by algorithms and robots. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) predicts that within the next two decades, 14% of jobs will disappear, and another 32% will undergo radical transformation.^[1]  These sobering numbers represent over a billion people globally, and they don’t even account for the recent surge in generative AI technologies like ChatGPT. Skills have a shorter shelf life than a carton of milk, and upskilling just doesn't cut it anymore. We need full-blown reskilling – equipping our workforce with entirely new skills to thrive in this AI-powered world.

The rapid pace of technological change, particularly automation, threatens to displace millions of workers globally. Companies need to prepare their workforces for new roles and ways of working alongside AI and other intelligent technologies. In a collaborative pilot program between Walmart, Unilever and Accenture. The program aimed to develop new methods for upskilling employees at scale across different industries. Traditional upskilling efforts often struggle to keep pace with the evolving job market. This pilot explored a more collaborative, data-driven approach that matches worker skills and interests with future career opportunities. The pilot identified the critical need for industry-wide collaboration to develop standardized skills frameworks and training programs. The program emphasized the importance of fostering human skills like creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving alongside technical skills. Leveraging data analytics allows for more targeted upskilling initiatives, ensuring employees are trained for in-demand skills. It demonstrates the potential of collaborative, data-driven upskilling programs to prepare workforces for the future. By focusing on human-machine collaboration and building transferable skills, companies can navigate the age of AI and thrive in the evolving job market. ^[2]

Skills are no longer static. In the age of AI, the half-life of skills is shrinking. What used to remain relevant for years now becomes outdated within months. Technical skills, in particular, have an even shorter shelf life—around 2.5 years. ^[3]  Reskilling isn’t a luxury; it’s a strategic imperative. Companies that fail to invest in reskilling risk falling behind. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) also predicts that in some countries, non-standard workers are 40-50% less likely to receive any form of income support during an out-of-work spell than standard employees.^[4]  Imagine your business as a ship navigating treacherous waters. Reskilling is the compass that ensures you stay on course. It’s about equipping your crew with the tools they need to weather storms and seize new opportunities.

Market leaders reskilling strategies resemble a GPS system— they are constantly recalibrating based on real-time data. They are setting agile roadmaps that adapt to market shifts and emerging technologies. By not waiting for skills to expire they upskill their workforce proactively. Offering bite-sized, just-in-time learning modules they think of it as a pit crew fine-tuning the car mid-race. Reskilling for them isn’t a solo endeavor as they collaborate with industry peers, educational institutions, and AI experts. Sharing insights, swapping tools, and collectively accelerating. Their workforces are not just passengers; they’re co-pilots. Keeping their employees motivated by emphasizing the why, they know how reskilling fuels their career growth and ensures their relevance. Leveraging AI and using predictive analytics to identify skill gaps, personalize learning paths, and optimize reskilling efforts, it’s like adding a turbo boost to a race car. In this AI-powered race, there’s no finish line. Reskilling is a perpetual marathon. We need to embrace the pace, invest in our workforce, and remember: The road ahead is winding, but with the right skills, you’ll conquer every turn.