We are living in very interesting and transformative times. As technology moves forward with artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT), and technology like robotic process automation (RPA), the consensus is that these technologies will make our lives easier. And dispense with some of the tedious everyday tasks. But how will it affect the job market? Many perspectives say that AI will create opportunities in some sectors of the economy and seriously endanger other sectors. So, what does this all mean for the future of work and the job seeker? Do people's career paths need to be extremely forward thinking? Okay, so now we have to bring up the question of skills. Again, is the job seeker going to have to be extremely forward thinking when it comes to the skills needed to perform the jobs of the future? These are definitely some tough questions. But also very real and important questions. 

Okay, the next question is, again, for the future of work. How is the job seeker going to cope with all this? As of today, companies are already using applicant tracking systems  (ATS) powered by AI to help with communications and filter applicants. So, this is where we are already at today. What is the future of work going to be? And what will it look like for humanity going forward? The next question provides a really interesting twist in all this. Will companies manage this so poorly that when it comes to filling positions at their own companies they won’t even get close to finding the talent they need? Or will they manage it so well it will be the exact opposite? 

No matter how you feel about the future of work, it seems that both companies and the job seeker have some intense challenges going forward. We can only hope that through all of this technological transformation, that people treat each other with respect, empathy, and kindness throughout the business process. 

To end we will say that AI, ML, and  IoT, should make our lives easier. But we have to ask the question, if this technology makes it extremely hard for people to find work, does it simply cancel out all the benefits it offers? This blog post was created from the August 25, 2021 episode of the Humanity In The Loop podcast. We hope you liked it and will continue to read our blog. Also, feel free to listen to the podcast.