IMF: Workers must acquire new skills as AI reshapes job markets
The IMF warns that nearly 40% of global jobs are exposed to AI-driven change, with one in 10 job postings in advanced economies and one in 20 in emerging market economies requiring at least one new skill. Professional, technical, and managerial roles account for the bulk of demand for new skills, with information technology alone responsible for more than half of this requirement. The IMF's findings are based on an analysis of millions of online job vacancies, revealing that technological change is no longer confined to factory floors or back offices. Workers with emerging skills can earn higher wages, with job postings requiring at least one new skill offering wages about 3% higher in the UK and US. However, the employment effects are uneven, with high-skill and low-skill workers benefiting the most, while middle-skill roles are under pressure. The IMF urges policymakers to prepare the labor force for the future of work and ensure the gains from AI are broadly shared. Will you invest in acquiring new skills to stay relevant in the job market or explore alternative career paths?