Striking the Right Balance Between Talent and Tech - The Value of Human Skills

The World Economic Forum predicts that by 2025, the time spent on current tasks at work by humans and machines will be equal. How do you navigate this shift so that you're recruiting future-proof talent who will deliver maximum productivity for your business?

June 2024

Key takeaways

• Skills shortages are negatively impacting businesses, with 67% of employers reporting that they are experiencing their most significant Skills shortages are negatively impacting businesses, with 67% of employers reporting that they are experiencing their most significant Skills shortages are negatively impacting businesses, with 67% of employers reporting that they are experiencing their most significant Skills shortages are negatively impacting businesses, with 67% of employers reporting that they are experiencing their most significant Skills shortages are negatively impacting businesses, with 67% of employers reporting that they are experiencing their most significant

“Artificial intelligence is not a substitute for human intelligence; it is a tool to amplify human creativity and ingenuity”, said Fei-Fei Li, Co-Director of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence and IT Professor at the Graduate School of Business. In a rapidly evolving labour market and technological landscape, human potential, and tech innovations are reshaping the ways we work. The concept of an Augmented Connected Workforce (ACWF) – a relatively new term coined by Gartner in the face of AI advancements – can be defined as the collaboration of human intelligence and technological abilities. Artificial intelligence (AI), automation and machine learning are revolutionising the labour market, by augmenting and enhancing human capabilities and productivity. Whilst this is a polarising topic for many, elevating inherently human skills alongside growing technologies is essential to leveraging the advantages of an augmented humanity, while also recognising the importance of irreplaceable human traits such as emotional intelligence, empathy, and creativity. Niki Turner-Harding, Country Head for Adecco UK & Ireland, said, “Adopting AI in the workforce is one of the highest priorities for companies everywhere, but there’s still a lot of confusion about how to leverage the opportunities in an ethical and transparent way. However, the future of work relies on integrating technological advances with a human touch – and an ACWF represents the best of both worlds.” An ACWF not only combines both types of abilities to promote productivity but also elevates inclusivity, employee competencies, and informed decision-making.