Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform businesses across various industries. Therefore, possessing soft skills is becoming more important for employees to have in this AI-driven world. They’re the missing piece that complements technical know-how and helps you succeed. 

In this article, we discover the key reasons why nurturing your soft skills is essential for success in an AI-forward world. 

AI Now and the Future of the Workforce 

AI is everywhere and around us now and it’s transforming the way people work. A 2022 study by the Pew Research Center found that 19 percent of U.S. workers have jobs that are highly exposed to AI. The most important tasks in these roles may be assisted or replaced by AI. 

These highly exposed jobs tend to be higher paying, where having analytical skills and a college education can be advantageous. Some examples of these roles include technical writers, web developers, budget analysts, and data entry keyers.¹ 

Meanwhile, a McKinsey report on Generative AI and the future of work in America says that activities that account for up to 30 percent of work hours across the US economy may be automated and this is accelerated by generative AI.  

With this in mind, generative AI will also improve work in STEM, business, legal, and creatives instead of eliminating a notable number of jobs. The changing work landscape may necessitate around 12 million occupational transitions by 2023.²

Related Reading: Will Engineers and Tech Professionals Ever Stop Being In-Demand? 

Soft Skills Are Needed for the Future of Work 

With the possibility of job transformations at hand, what employers will be looking for in candidates will also be changing. However, soft skills can make you more attractive to hiring managers. Here are the skills needed and why.  

1. AI doesn’t understand what accountability is. 

Yes, AI can assist you in your more technical and analytical tasks, but it cannot be conscious of a soft skill such as accountability. 

Accountability drives ownership of actions, responsibilities, and outcomes. Being accountable means, you have the power to adapt to challenges that come your way or solve any issue that hinders you from achieving your intended results. And while AI can assist you in data-driven decision making, it can’t take your place in team collaborations and in making empathetic decisions. 

While AI can assist in identifying steps to rectify errors, it’s essential to pair it with sincere and transparent human communication to ensure a thorough understanding of what occurred, and the steps being taken to address it. Clear and empathetic communication is vital in maintaining trust and transparency in such situations. 

2. Adaptability and flexibility are needed to navigate the changing world. 

Soft skills, such as adaptability and flexibility, enhance your career prospects and set you apart in the job market. These vital abilities are particularly valuable in industries where AI plays a significant role. They demonstrate your capacity to quickly acquire new skills and technology, as well as your creativity in generating unique solutions. 

Adaptability also fosters empathy, enabling you to grasp others’ perspectives. In roles involving creativity or development, this skill allows you to understand users’ needs and anticipate various ways they might utilize your products. 

3. Effective communication is needed to manage generative AI well. 

Future work scenarios demand strong communication skills. These abilities enable you to convey ideas and messages effectively, whether with your team or your target audience through your products and services. 

Effective communication extends beyond verbal interactions; it also encompasses utilizing technological advancements like generative AI. 

For instance, when using generative AI to assist with content creation, effective communication involves crafting precise prompts or asking the right questions to guide it in generating content that aligns closely with your desired output. 

4. Soft skills set you apart in an AI-driven job market. 

Job skill sets have shifted significantly since 2015 and are expected to transform by 41 percent by 2025. Employers now highly value soft skills across various industries, with 45 percent of recent LinkedIn Premium job posts highlighting communication skills.³ 

To stay competitive in your field, it’s crucial to adopt a growth mindset. Identify your soft skills and cultivate them. Additionally, seek feedback from trusted peers to pinpoint areas where you can further develop these essential abilities, including leadership, management, communication, problem-solving, strategy, and time management. 

Related Reading: How to Land the Tech Job You Want 

5. Having soft skills can help you drive purpose. 

A McKinsey survey about purpose found that out of 1,000 respondents from U.S. companies, 82 percent said that purpose is important for a company to have, but only 42 percent of them believe that their company’s purpose had much effect.⁴ 

Purpose is deeply emotional and personal, qualities that AI lacks. Effective communication of purpose requires soft skills like empathy, attentiveness, good communication, persistence, and dependability. These skills empower companies to implement initiatives that positively impact people, even in the face of challenges. 

6. AI cannot replace relationship-driven human leadership. 

If you want to upskill in your career or be an expert in the industry, you will have to nurture skills that can help you effectively lead. AI can assist in data-driven decision-making, but true leadership entails more. It’s also about connecting with people and helping them move forward in the right direction. 

Gallup emphasizes that to be an effective leader, you have to inspire, align, and activate others, but leadership isn’t limited to these. Effective leadership requires the ability to define results and help people use their talents to reach them.  

Excellent leaders know their people and are aware that the competitive edge lies in their strengths. People also need compassion, trust, stability, and hope in their leaders.⁵ 

All of these human skills lead to genuine connections, partnerships, and belonging, which AI can’t replicate. You, however, are capable of them. 

The future needs your human skills more than ever. 

The impact of soft skills in an AI-forward era will be unmatched. Your future work may be different from how you envisioned it but the soft skills you possess will be advantageous in helping you find the best opportunities out there. 

RASO360 CAN HELP YOU FIND FUTURE-PROOF OPPORTUNITIES 

If you feel any uncertainty about your job and are looking for a new one that’s more stable or fulfilling, Raso360 can help you connect with employers who will see value in your technical and soft skills. 

We can find you a job you can be proud of in IT, Engineering, Accounting & Finance, Digital Marketing, and more through Staff Augmentation, Direct Hire, or Staff Leasing. Get in touch with us today to know more about the solutions, we can bring you. 

References 

1 Kochhar, Rakesh. “Which U.S. Workers Are More Exposed to AI on Their Jobs?” Pew Research Center, 26 Jul. 2023, www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2023/07/26/which-u-s-workers-are-more-exposed-to-ai-on-their-jobs/. 

2 Ellingrud, Kweilin, et al. “Generative AI and the Future of Work in America.” McKinsey Global Institute, 26 Jul. 2023, www.mckinsey.com/mgi/our-research/generative-ai-and-the-future-of-work-in-america#/. 

3 “Learn Top Skills to Help You Future-Proof Your Career.” LinkedIn, 1 Sept. 2022, www.linkedin.com/business/learning/blog/top-skills-and-courses/learn-top-skills-to-future-proof-your-career. 

4 “Purpose: Shifting from Why to How.” McKinsey & Company, 22 Apr. 2020, www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/purpose-shifting-from-why-to-how. 

5 “Leadership Effectiveness: How to Be a Better Leader.” Gallup, www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/356072/how-to-be-better-leader.aspx. Accessed 8 Sept. 2023.