As technological advancements rapidly change industries, upskilling is crucial to leveraging AI effectively. David Pool, from QA, emphasises the importance of addressing the UK’s skill shortage.
- The UK faces a significant skills gap, with 1.72 million employees considered underskilled, a number that has increased since 2017.
- Businesses are struggling due to a lack of skilled digital talent, with 93% experiencing challenges and 41% blaming insufficient training.
- AI will impact nearly every job function, making basic AI understanding essential across industries.
- Upskilling is not only vital for economic productivity but is crucial for securing jobs against AI-driven automation.
David Pool, the Practice Director of Data Science and AI at QA, highlights the pressing need for upskilling in the United Kingdom to maximise the potential benefits of artificial intelligence. Speaking at the onset of QA’s Learning at Work week, an annual event promoting continuous workplace education, he addressed the longstanding skills shortage in the nation, exacerbated by rapid technological evolution.
The UK Government’s annual employer skills survey underscores this issue, with findings that indicate 1.72 million employees are deemed underskilled, an increase from 1.27 million in 2017. Specifically, in the realms of data, technology, and digital skills, Forbes research reports that 93% of businesses have encountered challenges due to a dearth of digitally skilled talent, with 41% attributing these challenges to a lack of training opportunities.
Pool argues for a substantial transformation in skills development, akin to a ‘skills revolution’, to prepare the workforce for the AI-driven digital economy. Highlighting the extensive reach of AI, Pool states, ‘AI will impact nearly every job function across almost every industry.’ Consequently, it is paramount for employees to at least have a foundational understanding of AI, its risks, and benefits.
Given the UK’s existing skills gap, it is impractical to rely solely on higher education to produce a sufficient number of AI-skilled workers. Pool insists that businesses must take an active role in upskilling and reskilling their employees at all levels in critical AI competencies. The significant return on investment from upskilling is well-documented, with positive effects on employee retention and efficiency.
Moreover, upskilling serves as a protective measure for employees’ futures, shielding their livelihoods from the consequences of AI’s potential to automate lower-skilled roles and revolutionise entire industries. Pool draws parallels with historical lessons, noting how the neglect of skills development during the decline of heavy manufacturing in the 1970s and 80s left lasting negative impacts. Ensuring that continuous upskilling becomes embedded in career progression is essential to harnessing AI’s advantages while mitigating its risks.
Emphasising continuous learning and upskilling is critical to closing the productivity gap and energising the UK economy in the face of AI advancements.
