ManpowerGroup executive says CEOs lack a clear AI workforce playbook
A ManpowerGroup leader says companies are moving fast on AI but still lack firm answers on jobs, skills and worker confidence.
By Hana Yoshida · Markets Reporter
3 min read
Business leaders are investing in artificial intelligence, but many still do not know how to prepare their workforces for the longer-term changes it may bring, according to ManpowerGroup's chief strategy officer. In a Fortune commentary, the executive said recent conversations with CEOs in Europe and other business leaders around the world repeatedly ended with uncertainty about what comes after AI adoption.
The ManpowerGroup executive said leaders already understand that AI is changing work and are testing tools to produce near-term gains. The harder questions, the executive wrote, concern how companies will change over time, which skills will gain value and how workers can be prepared while the future of work is still taking shape.
Worker confidence is a central concern
The commentary pointed to ManpowerGroup research showing a split between workers' current confidence and their worries about automation. According to the company, nearly nine in 10 workers say they have the skills needed for their present jobs, while almost half are concerned automation could affect their roles within two years.
ManpowerGroup also found that more than half of workers say they have not recently received training or mentoring. The executive argued that this gap makes confidence a workforce issue in the AI era, because employees want to know how their roles may change and whether new opportunities will be available to them.
The executive said workers are not broadly resisting change, noting that many are already trying new tools and experimenting with AI. The concern, according to the commentary, is whether employees can see a credible path for themselves as jobs and skill needs shift.
Skills demand is moving quickly
The commentary said employers are also struggling to predict the pace and shape of change. As one example, the ManpowerGroup executive said data scientist has moved from 152nd in demand two years ago to 28th now.
At the same time, the executive said 73% of employers report that they cannot find the skilled workers they need. The commentary said new roles are emerging and existing roles are being redesigned, while companies continue to compete for workers with the right technical and human skills.
The executive also argued that AI is increasing demand beyond AI specialist jobs. According to the commentary, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers and construction managers are becoming more sought after because they help build the infrastructure that AI systems require.
Human skills remain part of AI adoption
The ManpowerGroup executive said companies need employees who can work with AI tools, but also people with judgment, communication skills, relationship-building ability and trust. The commentary framed human capability as a larger factor as technology becomes more widely used.
The executive cited a ManpowerGroup partnership with IBM that brought AI-powered workflows into client operations. According to the commentary, the technology could support a pilot within weeks, while the longer and more consequential work involved training employees to trust the system, redesigning jobs around it and ensuring the tools were actually used.
The executive said organizations that perform best will invest in worker confidence as much as in technology. The commentary argued that leaders do not have a complete answer for what comes next, but can be more transparent about what they know, what remains uncertain and where they expect opportunities to emerge.
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.