Singapore leads the global charge in embracing artificial intelligence (AI) skills among workers, outpacing all others, according to LinkedIn’s recent Future of Work report.
Derived from data across 25 countries, the report reveals that Singapore boasts the highest “diffusion rate,” with members adding AI skills to their profiles experiencing a growth rate 20 times higher than in January 2016.
This significantly surpasses the global average of eight times, marking Singapore as the fastest adopter of AI skills.
Following closely are Finland (16x), Ireland (15x), India (14x), and Canada (13x) in the top five countries with the highest rates of AI skills adoption, according to LinkedIn’s report.
LinkedIn’s Pooja Chhabria, the Asia-Pacific head of editorial, attributes Singapore’s rapid embrace of AI skills to its robust digital infrastructure, strong intellectual property protection, and a thriving ecosystem of venture capital firms.
She notes that the nation has been a “fertile ground” for AI disruption, with rapid growth fueled by startups and businesses seeking competitive advantages.
The report also highlights the emergence of generative AI, with the five fastest-growing AI-related skills in 2022 revolving around generative AI.
These include question-answering, classification, and recommender systems.
LinkedIn points out that generative AI’s potential to create text, images, and other content in response to human input has raised concerns about job displacement.
A Goldman Sachs report suggests that around 300 million jobs worldwide could be affected by AI and automation.
LinkedIn’s analysis reveals that 45% of teachers’ skills are “potentially augmentable” by generative AI, including areas like lesson planning, curriculum development, literacy, and tutoring.
However, 53% of teachers’ skills, such as classroom management and special education, still require human intervention.
According to the report, software engineers have the highest share of skills (96%) potentially augmentable by generative AI, followed by customer service representatives (76%), cashiers (59%), and salespersons (59%). Despite these changes, LinkedIn emphasizes that soft skills, such as creative thinking, leadership, communication, and ethical decision-making, are becoming increasingly important.
While AI may automate certain aspects of the workforce, LinkedIn emphasises the enduring importance of soft skills.
The U.S. has witnessed a growing demand for skills like flexibility, professional ethics, social perceptiveness, and self-management since November 2022.
Microsoft’s 2023 Work Trend Index report also underscores the significance of analytical judgment, flexibility, and emotional intelligence as essential skills according to leaders.
LinkedIn and Microsoft both emphasize that human agency remains crucial in leveraging AI capacities, with emotional intelligence playing a pivotal role in determining when to employ AI capabilities versus human skills.
The human element, including judgment and decision-making, remains integral in navigating the evolving landscape of AI and work.