59% Employees Confident Of Their AI Ability: Report

A recent report has revealed that about 59 per cent of employees are confident in their ability to adapt and utilise AI tools, indicating that Indian businesses are gearing up for big changes in hiring in 2024.

Emphasising the chances of widespread acceptance of AI at work next year the study said that of the surveyed employers 19 per cent have already implemented or are in the process of implementing next-generation technologies such as generative AI (Gen AI) at the workplace during the coming year.  

The Indeed report highlighted an integral part of employers’ strategy. It said the hiring will be effectively based on adopting AI and 42 per cent of respondents shared they will be following ethical AI principles while employing.

Employers also believe that increasing human-AI collaboration (37 per cent) and reskilling/upskilling the workforce to meet the skill demand (25 per cent) will be key strategies they want to implement. 

The study found that this year, employees were predominantly focused on skills such as Gen AI skills (27 per cent) and programming languages (22 per cent). Subsequently, it underscored that employers were looking to hire for skills such as cybersecurity (37 per cent) and data science and analytics (29 per cent).

Commenting on the findings Sashi Kumar, Head of Sales, Indeed India highlights, “As the year draws to a close, it's evident from Indeed's report that the demand for tech and knowledge workers remains robust. From the rise in Gen AI skills to the enduring importance of programming languages and the growing demand for expertise in cybersecurity, it's clear that adaptability and upskilling remain pivotal for success in the tech industry. "

Shedding light on the employers' keen on building workplace strategies focused on Gen Z the study suggested that one of the important aspects for employers in 2024 will be to align Gen Z expectations with workplace strategies.  It said a majority of GenZ employees prefer their workplaces to have flexible work arrangements (38 per cent), purpose-driven work (23 per cent) and technology-driven environments (18 per cent).  

Employers are meeting these expectations as those surveyed have stated that they will prioritise offering flexible work arrangements (26 per cent), a technology-driven environment (24 per cent), and professional development opportunities (20 per cent) to attract and retain Gen Z talent. However, purpose-driven work seems to be an important aspect that employers must now focus on, the study added.

Additionally, the study said diversity and inclusion will also take centre stage next year as employers have showcased strong intentions to embrace diversity and inclusion policies, with 47 per cent indicating a forthcoming surge in robust policy adoption.