AI Won’t Take Your Job If You Have These Skills
▼ Summary
– A McKinsey survey of 1,993 professionals across 105 countries found that most organizations reported little to no workforce changes due to AI in the past year.
– Looking ahead, 32% of respondents expect workforce decreases from AI, while 13% anticipate increases, with large enterprises more likely to reduce headcount.
– Customer care, HR, and sales/marketing roles are seeing downturns due to AI, while data scientists, engineers, and AI product managers are in high demand.
– Companies are increasingly seeking AI skills for roles like claims adjusters and digital marketers to integrate AI into existing workflows and operations.
– The impact of AI on jobs varies by company size, industry, and AI usage, with data readiness and MLOps skills becoming more critical for AI success.
The rise of artificial intelligence is reshaping the workforce, but acquiring the right skills can safeguard your career against automation. While many professionals worry about being replaced by technology, a recent McKinsey study reveals that certain roles are not only surviving but thriving in this new environment. The key lies in understanding where demand is growing and adapting accordingly.
McKinsey’s 2025 report, “The State of AI in 2025: Agents, Innovation, and Transformation,” surveyed nearly 2,000 professionals across 105 countries. It found that over the past year, most organizations experienced minimal changes in staffing levels due to AI. Fewer than one in five respondents reported workforce reductions exceeding 3% in most job categories. Interestingly, a smaller segment actually expanded their teams as a direct result of AI integration.
Looking forward, expectations shift. About a third of organizations anticipate downsizing due to AI in the coming year, while 43% foresee no change. Larger firms are more likely to reduce headcount compared to smaller businesses. Companies heavily invested in AI predict significant shifts, though these could mean either job losses or new hiring, depending on the department.
Roles in customer service, human resources, and marketing face the greatest risk of contraction as AI handles more routine tasks. On the other hand, positions like data scientists, data engineers, and machine learning specialists are experiencing a hiring boom. Software engineers, AI product managers, and data architects are also in high demand as businesses race to build and maintain AI systems.
Lareina Yee, a senior partner at McKinsey, points out that many companies are still in early stages of AI implementation. The full impact on employment remains unclear, but the skills employers seek are already changing. Professionals in fields like claims adjustment, digital marketing, and financial management are increasingly expected to integrate AI tools into their daily workflows.
Roughly a third of survey respondents expect workforce reductions, but a smaller, proactive group reports staffing increases, especially in IT, supply chain, and sales. Yee emphasizes that data readiness and machine learning operations (MLOps) have become critical. Larger enterprises in particular are actively hiring talent capable of managing, modeling, and scaling data infrastructure, often at twice the rate of other roles.
Success in the AI era isn’t about resisting change but adapting to it. By focusing on roles that support and advance AI capabilities, professionals can not only secure their positions but also drive innovation within their organizations.
(Source: ZDNET)
