You might have seen the headlines “AI apocalypse could take away almost 8 million jobs in the UK.” It’s pretty scary stuff, especially if you’re thinking about university. But here’s the truth. The data tells a different story. Will AI take all graduate jobs? No. Will it transform graduate jobs? Yes, for those students who take the opportunities into their own hands and develop the essential skills to become the stewards of AI.
What will AI mean for the future of jobs?
Will AI take all graduate jobs? The answer is that we don’t know yet. That “8 million jobs” claim comes from an IPPR report based on predictions and estimates, not hard facts. This figure is based on their worst-case scenarios, and the actual story of the report is much more balanced.
It's extremely important to understand that many studies on the potential of AI are more like educated guesses. Rather than being taken as facts, as they’re often communicated in headlines, these must be interpreted with caution, as they are only possible trends. No one can predict the future, and there are many uncertainties around AI technology, including how it will be adopted, affect the workplace and our lives.
The silver lining
From the same report, their best-case scenario sees “no job losses and an economic boost of 13% to GDP (£306bn per year)”. The report is intended as a warning to the government, asking them to manage the change effectively, spreading the economic gains across society. Decreases in jobs in one area could also create growth in other industries, like health and social care jobs.
IPPR’s report shows that there isn’t a set path for how AI will reshape the future of jobs, and predictions aren’t destiny. The decisions you make now could open up opportunities that previous generations couldn’t imagine. The key is taking responsibility for your own development and growth.
Are graduate roles particularly at risk from AI?
AI is creating a massive technological change. But this is more likely to influence the types of jobs graduates can get, rather than whether they get them at all.
The opportunity for graduates is in how they work with AI going forward. Simple, repetitive tasks graduates have done in the past are at risk, like data entry, taking meeting minutes or basic coding. However, most jobs are only partly exposed to AI automation, meaning they’re more likely to be assisted by AI than replaced by it.
The World Economic Forum suggests that leaders should focus on “human-machine collaboration”, which is where technology helps and enhances, instead of replacing, human work. The potential number of jobs which are likely to be transformed by AI is six times greater than those that might be automated. This suggests that the types of roles graduates take on will be changing, but how can you turn this into an opportunity?
How can university help prepare you for working with AI?
University education has the potential to prepare students for the future of work by equipping them with both the essential soft (or durable) skills and technical skills they’ll need to collaborate with AI, as long as they are embedded into the curriculum and throughout university life.
A soft skill shows up in the way you think and behave. For example, a soft skill for baking is planning, while kneading dough is a technical skill. Soft skills are essential for working life, particularly in communication and working with other people.
Multiverse have developed a list of essential soft skills for adopting the use of AI. The most important include:
- Analytical reasoning
- Creativity
- Systems thinking
- AI ethics
- Cultural sensitivity
- Curiosity
- Self-regulated learning
University education encourages students to develop many, if not all, of these skills. Assignments nearly always have an element of "critical thinking", arts subjects push students to explore creativity, computing or engineering courses will centre around systems thinking and learning is nearly all self-directed. On top of that, there aren't many other places where you can meet and collaborate with people from so many different backgrounds. Diversity like that can't be underestimated.
So, will AI take all graduate jobs?
No, but it’s more important than ever that students make the most of their time at university. What sets current and future graduates apart from the crowd is their ability to think creatively and use critical thought. That means using AI as a tool to craft great, personal work, not letting it do everything for you.
The data shows that there are opportunities for graduates if they develop the right skills now. The graduates who’ll benefit the most from AI aren’t waiting for it to reshape their careers. They’re learning to shape AI.
