IMF Warns AI Disruption Is Reshaping Jobs, Forcing Workers Worldwide to Learn New Skills

Workers across the globe are under growing pressure to learn new skills as artificial intelligence and digital technologies transform how jobs are created, performed, and rewarded. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says this shift is no longer a future concern but a present reality, affecting both advanced and emerging economies as employers increasingly prioritise adaptable and tech-savvy talent.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva revealed this in a blog post based on a fresh analysis of millions of online job vacancies worldwide. According to the Fund, one in every 10 job postings in advanced economies now requires at least one new skill, compared with one in 20 in emerging markets, highlighting how continuous learning has become central to employability in today’s labour market.

The analysis shows that demand for new skills is strongest in professional, technical, and managerial roles, with information technology accounting for more than half of these requirements. Beyond tech, sector-specific skills are also rising, as healthcare increasingly seeks digital health and telecare expertise, while marketing roles now commonly require social media and digital engagement capabilities.

The IMF also found that workers with emerging skills are being rewarded with higher pay. In the United Kingdom and the United States, jobs requiring at least one new skill offer wages about 3% higher, while roles demanding four or more new skills can command wage premiums of up to 15% in the UK and 8.5% in the US. However, the employment impact is uneven, with high- and low-skill workers benefiting more, while middle-skill roles such as routine office jobs face growing pressure.

Despite wage premiums for AI-related skills, the IMF noted that job growth has not kept pace, warning that regions with high demand for AI skills recorded lower employment in AI-vulnerable roles over time. With nearly 40% of global jobs exposed to AI-driven change, the Fund cautioned that without proactive education, training, and social protection policies, technological disruption could widen inequality—especially for young people whose entry-level roles are most at risk from automation.

source: nairametrics