Dive Brief:
- Six out of 15 emerging jobs are related to artificial intelligence (AI), according to LinkedIn's 2018 U.S. Emerging Jobs Report. LinkedIn reported seeing a 190% global increase in AI skills — which make up the fastest-growing skills group on the platform — between 2015 and 2017.
- Jobs relating to basic business functions like administrative assistants, sales development representatives and assurance staff remain in demand, according to the report. Despite the rise of AI-related jobs, the largest skills gaps surround soft skills such as leadership, oral communication and time management. Jobs that have been growing steady for years include software engineers, account executives and recruiters.
- LinkedIn said jobs in machine learning have expanded, as have those in the data sciences, with specialized roles emerging. Following an interest in blockchain and cryptocurrency, the role of blockchain developer topped this year's list of jobs resulting from surging interest in the topic.
Dive Insight:
Nearly every job across disciplines and industries requires some degree of tech skills. Soft skills, while equally widespread in demand, have proved harder to find and can set apart one candidate from the rest, experts have said. In fact, soft skills are reportedly so scarce and in demand that a new online college is teaching them to adults. LinkedIn's 2018 Workplace Learning Report released in March cited soft skills as the top training priority for the year.
The fear that AI would be entering the employment arena to take out jobs seems to be waning. A 2017 Gartner study predicted that AI would bring in more jobs than it would replace. And workers in a recent study said they see technology creating new career opportunities for them.
As tech jobs and the demand for soft skills grow, employers might need to invest in more training, upskilling and reskilling to prepare workers for the changing labor market.
