As the world takes clear aim at all of its possibilities for professionals and companies are also looking to harness the power of AI and unlock new opportunities. To chart the significant changes taking place LinkedIn has released a special report “The Global Future of Work Report: State of AI @ Work,” diving into AI trends in the workplace and their potential impact.

According to the report the rise of AI, elevated by ChatGPT, has accelerated workforce transformations, with 65% of professionals anticipating altered job roles due to AI. The shift emphasizes the growing importance of skills and leveraging AI in their day-to-day lives as automation becomes more widespread.

Highlights from the report

AI is changing the labor market for companies, who are keen to hire talent with AI-related skills.

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The share of global English-language job postings mentioning GPT or ChatGPT increased 21x since November 2022. Notably, growth in AI talent hiring has outpaced the overall hiring in APAC, which suggests that companies are hiring more AI talent today than in 2016 (Australia 12%, India -6%, Indonesia 20%, Japan 24%, Singapore 14%).

Workers are rapidly gaining AI skills and agree this is key to their career growth.

We’re seeing more LinkedIn members around the globe adding AI skills to their profiles than ever before. Based on the AI-Skills Index data from 25 countries, the number of AI-proficient members in June 2023 has grown 9 times larger compared to January 2016. Notably, Singapore boasts the highest rise in members who have added AI skills to their profiles over time (20x); in other words, the share of members who have added AI skills to their profiles is 20 times higher than it was in January 2016. Finland (16x), Ireland (15x), India (14x) and Canada (13x) round out the top five countries with the highest rates of AI skills.

Pickup of AI skills strongest among Gen Zs.

More professionals are picking up AI-related skills, and there is a clear consensus that having AI skills will help them in their career growth. This is particularly strong among Gen Zs (India 71%, Australia 62%) compared to other generations like baby boomers, Gen X, and millennials.

AI is driving change in the workforce, and at the same time, soft skills are becoming increasingly important.

LinkedIn’s data revealed that there is a clear consensus among professionals that having AI skills will help them in their career growth. In addition, 74% of business executives in Australia and 71% in India agree that soft skills are more valuable to their org than AI skills. With AI set to play a bigger role in the workplace, professionals agree that soft skills (creativity, problem solving) will allow them to showcase their human edge.

The evolving job market is witnessing a profound impact from AI, with companies prioritizing AI-skilled hires. As professionals seek to gain AI skills, they recognise the importance of upskilling and being adaptable in their career journey. LinkedIn plays a vital role in this AI-driven landscape by assisting professionals in upskilling, connecting with AI top voices, and utilizing AI-assisted tools for job-seeking, hiring, marketing, selling, and learning through LinkedIn Learning.

AI in the Asia Pacific

LinkedIn provided the following summary of the report findings for APAC:

More LinkedIn members around the globe are adding AI skills to their profiles.

• The share of global English-language job postings mentioning GPT or ChatGPT increased 21x since November 2022
• In June 2023, the number of AI-skilled members was 9x larger than in January 2016, globally
• Since early April, the number of LinkedIn member posts mentioning GAI keywords in 25% the US has increased 25% month over month
• In 2022, the growth in AI talent hiring has outpaced the growth in overall hiring in APAC. This trend suggests that those countries are now hiring more AI talent than in 2016.
  • Australia: 12%
  • India: -6%
  • Indonesia: 20%
  • Japan: 24%
  • Singapore: 14%

AI skills will help professionals in their career growth

• 60% of Indian professionals and 45% of Australian professionals agree that gaining AI skills will help them progress in their career
• Particularly strong among GenZ (India: 71%, Australia: 62%) as compared to other generations
  • Young Australian professionals led by Millennials and GenZ (36%) show the most interest in learning AI skills as compared to overall (28%). Nearly half (48%) of Australian Baby Boomer workers (and 38% Gen X) workers in Australia are not interested in learning any digital skills this year
  • Young Indian professionals led by GenZ (38%) drive the interest in learning AI skills compared to overall (30%). Nearly one-third (29%) of Baby Boomer workers in India are not interested in learning any digital skills this year

Soft skills are becoming increasingly important

• Australia: 94% of Execs agree that soft skills are more important than ever; 74% of Execs agree that soft skills are more valuable to their org than AI skills.
• India: 91% of Execs agree that soft skills are more important than ever; 71% of Execs agree that soft skills are more valuable to their org than AI skills.

APAC usage of AI

• Early stages of AI and low usage currently in their jobs (Australia: 18%, India: 25%)
• Over a third of professionals have started to see AI’s role in the workplace increase (Australia: 32%, India: 43%)

LinkedIn’s new AI Skills Index shows the speed at which members are adding AI skills to their profiles across industries and countries. (Refer to appendix for more information)

• As of June 2023, Singapore has the highest diffusion rate over time (20x), as compared to January 2016
• Finland (16x), Ireland (15x), India (14x), and Canada (13x) round out the top five countries with the highest rates of AI skills diffusion.
• Australia is at 11x.

Generative AI will unlock more opportunities.

• In the US,
  • 47% of US executives believe that “using generative AI will increase productivity”
  • 44% plan to increase their use of AI at their organization in the next year
  • 40% think that using generative AI will help unlock more growth/revenue opportunities in the next year
  • 51% of US executives are excited about AI advancements, but do not yet know how their organization will leverage AI tools and skills
• In Australia,
  • 57% of Australian Execs agree that “using generative AI will increase productivity
  • 54% agree they are planning to increase their use of AI at their org in the next year
  • 48% agree that using generative AI will help unlock more growth/revenue opportunities in the next year
  • 37% of Australian Execs plan to upskill or hire for AI skills (30% to up/reskill employees; 7% to hire more talent with AI skills)
• In India,
  • 66% of Indian Execs agree that “using generative AI will increase productivity”
  • 62% agree that using it will “unlock more growth and revenue opportunities in the next year”
  • 57% agree they plan to “increase their use of AI at their org in the next year.”
  • Half of Indian Execs plan to upskill or hire for AI skills (38% to up/reskill employees; 12% to hire more talent with AI skills)

Top three AI skills that professionals are picking up across APAC:

• Australia: Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Deep Learning
• India: Machine Learning, Data Structures, Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Indonesia: Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Deep Learning
• Japan: Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Deep Learning
• Singapore: Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Deep Learning

You read the full report here.