Hey you! Yes, you, human being!

In the AI age, “human” skills remain in demand. In a survey of HR managers, 64% said the rise of AI is changing the workplace and that worker skills are in high demand. About 65% said digital, interpersonal, and cognitive skills will be the most crucial skills for success in the AI era. Researchers noted that the top in-demand cognitive skills are problem-solving, creativity, originality, imagination, and the ability to learn.

The AI skills gap continues to be a topic of conversation: nearly two-thirds of workers don’t have the skills to use AI effectively and safely in the workplace, Salesforce researchers suggested in a July 2023 report.

While tech companies and investors pull back seemingly everywhere else in tech, money still flows into AI, which the industry sees as the next big thing. To capitalize on this, people in adjacent tech careers are attempting to reposition themselves where the good jobs are. Short of getting another degree, many are hoping to do so with on-the-job training, boot camps, and self-education.

Keep in mind that while Silicon Valley still pays top dollar for IT pros, the war for talent has moved beyond the technology industry, with other verticals vying for talented IT workers who have the skills to enable digital transformation, process improvement, change management, and the development of apps and services. As the demand for tech talent grows in industries beyond tech, salaries are rising in fields such as consulting, finance, hospitality, and more.

I know it sounds obvious, but it’s not: don’t just entrust your career development to your employer. It is a very personal thing, and you should have an active role in yours because you are the one who should benefit from such a plan, not anyone else.