A new survey found that 59% of working professionals say the skillset needed for their job has evolved—and they’re figuring out how to keep up.  

By Gillian Manning 

Technology is shifting how people work and the skills they need to get by. In a new survey from Concordia University, St. Paul, about 6 in 10 American professionals say AI is changing the skills needed in their field, and 14% have experienced AI going so far as to replace their tasks. The changing landscape has 33% of professionals worried that their current skillset is not enough to stay competitive.  

With these apparent changes, people are considering their next moves. More than half (55%) of American professionals say they are likely to pursue a professional credential within the next two years, with leadership training and AI literacy being the most in-demand skills. 

This seems to be effective for many. As 45% report feeling they’ve “hit a ceiling in their current role,” 51% also say they’ve seen their peers advance their careers after earning new credentials.  

The survey also found: 

• technology/IT professionals have seen the most rapid rate of change, with 74% agreeing that AI is changing the skills needed in their field; 
• healthcare professionals report the highest rates of additional education, with 61% saying they are likely to pursue additional education; and 
• certain professionals will struggle to expand their scope more than others, as 55% of retail and e-commerce professionals say that their employer doesn’t offer any education benefits at all—which is more than double the rate of technology/IT professionals (24%). 

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