5 Skills You Need to Survive the AI Job Shake-Up
Experts say critical thinking and communication skills are essential as AI reshapes careers. Learn the top abilities needed to stay relevant in the future workforce.
According to JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, artificial intelligence could transform hiring in many industries—but certain skills can help most people secure their future careers.
"[AI] will eliminate jobs. That doesn't mean people won't have other jobs," Dimon told "Sunday Morning Futures" on Sunday. "My advice to people would be to practice critical thinking... learn EQ [emotional quotient, also known as emotional intelligence], learn how to be good in meetings, how to speak, how to write. You'll have plenty of jobs."
Dimon's prediction comes amid an assessment of AI in the US workforce. Some experts say AI is a factor in the rising youth unemployment rate. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warned in May that the technology could eliminate up to half of all white-collar jobs in the next five years.
Other CEOs are also seeing changes ahead. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal published on September 26, "It's very clear that AI is going to replace literally every job," and added: "There might be a job in the world that AI won't replace, but I haven't thought about it."
For his part, Dimon has previously emphasized the value of leaders with soft skills. In a July 2024 episode of LinkedIn's "This Is Working" video series, he explained that effective leaders have the ability to ask good questions and learn from competitors, clients, and their own mistakes.
Dimon said, "If you don't have a clear understanding of the real world outside, what's changing, what ideas are out there, you're ultimately going to fail."
Some other experts and business leaders generally agree with Dimon. Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman explained on August 8th in “Closing Bell Overtime” that critical thinking, or the ability to analyze information and draw conclusions, is a key to success in the age of AI. Research shows that AI can perform a variety of administrative and skill-based tasks, but it can't yet make nuanced decisions.
“You want to be creative. You want to be good at critical thinking. And you want to be flexible,” Garman said. “I think the ability to learn new things and adjust will be just as important as any specific skill you acquire.”
Similarly, some experts say that good communication skills and emotional intelligence are essential to succeed in the modern workforce. Being able to effectively share your ideas and interact with colleagues comes with clear benefits. Simply being seen as a good communicator by your colleagues can help you build relationships, become more likable, and make an impact at work.
You can improve your interactions with others by mentally preparing before conversations, asking thoughtful questions, taking responsibility for your mistakes, giving others credit for good ideas, and engaging in small talk with your colleagues—but according to Harvard University associate professor Alison Wood Brooks, being a good communicator often means listening.
According to Wood Brooks' Make It in July, "Successful communicators and successful employees go a step further than just nodding and making eye contact." "Listening to someone's answer and then asking for more information is a superhero move, and surprisingly few people think to do it.
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