Over 50% of HR leaders identify AI, ML as the most in-demand job, shows survey

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About 54 percent of human resource (HR) leaders identified artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) and big data analytics as the most in-demand job families, shows an Indeed and Nasscom report, Future of Work.

“This is something that will touch every single industry and every single job role… IT is the industry that will enable the change for all of the industries,” Sashi Kumar, head of sales at Indeed India, told Moneycontrol.

Emerging job roles are of data analysts/scientists, AI/ML experts, and cybersecurity specialists. About 55 percent of the current and future workforce are or will be frequent users of Generative AI (Gen AI), with use cases ranging from core research and development (R&D) and programming to content creation.

Touching on the workforce readiness quotient, the survey showed about 70 percent of the current workforce and over 50 percent of future workforce feel well prepared for the evolving job roles in the future.

HR leaders, however, consider learning attitude the most essential skill, which is a low priority for the workforce and calls for intervention. “What HR and talent acquisition folks will look at is not specifically skills, but also an ability to learn and a willingness to learn. That will become core of what people look for when they go to hire,” Kumar said.

Learning may not be enough for a job three or four years down the line, according him. “Just because you've learned something today is not going to be good enough. Do you bring the willingness to learn and continuously improve throughout your career? That's going to become very critical.”

Also read: Gen AI, strong deal momentum to propel IT growth in coming quarters

The adoption of Gen AI tools has seen a dramatic increase over the past year, evolving from proof-of-concept experiments to widespread commercial applications.

A large portion of the workforce now actively leverages Gen AI for diverse applications, including coding, programming, content creation, and beyond.

The future workforce is particularly using Gen AI for learning, enhancing general knowledge, improving communication skills, seeking mentorship and advice, and exploring AI’s vast capabilities.

Sangeeta Gupta, Chief Strategy Officer at Nasscom, said advancements in technologies, particularly AI and ML, are driving a transformation in the job market, including both technical expertise and soft skills. “Technology companies must implement policies and processes that are not only aligned with the changing dynamics but also adaptable to the continuous evolution of the workforce landscape,” Gupta was quoted as saying in a statement.

Also read: AI skills essential for better job opportunities, boosting Gen Z careers