September 16, 2025 1 Comment
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Learning: Our Greatest AI Advantage

4 min read

2025 Insights From The AI Workforce Consortium

As AI reshapes our world, its true impact will be measured by how prepared people are to harness it with confidence and creativity. Translating technology breakthroughs into the reality of work has never been easy, and today we are having to build new skills at a pace we’ve never experienced before. As we focus on skills, we are reminded that it’s not just about technology. Human capabilities – leadership, collaboration, and communication – are what give technology purpose, shaping how it is applied and trusted. 

This belief was the driving force behind the creation of the AI Workforce Consortium in 2024. Formed to help close the global AI skills gap, the Consortium’s first report studied 47 roles across seven job families and revealed that nearly each one would be reshaped by AI. It was the start of an important conversation about what readiness really means in the age of intelligent technology. 

Both AI and Human Skills Are Essential  

Last year’s study started the conversation. This year, the need to act is even clearer. The AI Workforce Consortium’s new 2025 report “ICT in Motion: The Next Wave of AI Integration” examines the 50 most in-demand ICT and specialized support roles. The questions we had last year about AI’s impact are being answered in no uncertain way.  

  • 78% of the job roles analyzed now include AI skills. 
  • 7 of the 10 fastest-growing ICT roles are AI-related.
  • Demand for specialized skills is skyrocketing.
  • Critical expertise in AI Governance and AI Ethics is rising sharply.  

The report makes clear that human skills are essential. Communication ranks among the top three skills across the G7 and is required in more than 30 roles – helping people work across teams, lead through change, and build trust in AI.  

Closing The Skills Gap, Opening New Possibilities 

The World Economic Forum projects that by 2030, 92 million jobs will be displaced, but 170 million new ones will be created, resulting in a net increase of 78 million jobs globally. Yet, the skills we need aren’t keeping pace. Across the G7, there are critical shortages in areas like large language models, generative AI, and AI governance. These aren’t niche capabilities – they are the foundations of how organizations will innovate and grow responsibly. The gap is especially pronounced in fast-growing roles such as AI/ML engineers and NLP specialists, making it harder for companies to fully unlock AI’s potential. The Consortium’s focus is on closing this gap with urgency and purpose. We’re creating targeted and inclusive learning opportunities to help organizations build resilience and agility, and to meet people at every stage of their careers.  

Stories, Tools and Learning to Turn Insights into Action  

This year, role-specific summaries show how AI is changing work and where developing new skills matters most. To complement the report, we’ve added a new site with an interactive AI chatbot that makes it easy to explore additional resources: 

  • The AI Workforce Playbook to align workforce development with business and AI goals
  • The 2025 AI Skills Glossary for a shared skilling language
  • 200+ curated learning recommendations to help individuals and organizations adapt quickly

“Skill Stories” That Show the Way

One of my favorite parts of this year’s report is the addition of “skill stories.” These are realistic narratives that bring the data to life. Each story highlights how roles are evolving, how tools are shifting, and most importantly, how people are discovering new ways to grow. Here are some examples: 

  • Jordan, Cybersecurity Analyst – “From Reactive to Proactive Threat Oversight” – learning to stay one step ahead with AI-powered defense. 
  • Priya, AI/ML Engineer – “From Code to Cognition” – showing how curiosity and reskilling opened the door to a new career. 
  • Emma, Software Developer – “Building AI Experiences” – shifting from writing code to shaping user-driven AI solutions. 
  • Maya, Learning & Development Specialist – “From Content Creator to Orchestrator” – using AI to transform traditional training into personalized learning journeys. 

As technology advances, our jobs will continue to evolve. These stories demonstrate that role evolution can unlock learning and possibilities we might not have imagined before. 

Learning – Our Greatest Advantage 

The 2025 report makes one message clear: AI is touching nearly every role. What matters now is how quickly we learn, adapt, and bring others with us. 

At Cisco, learning has always been our advantage. Through the global reach of Cisco Networking Academy, which has trained 28 million learners since its inception, and the continuous upskilling offered by Cisco U, our impact extends across industries and communities worldwide. Across these platforms, we now have 40 AI courses from entry level to expert, including our trusted Cisco Certifications. Today we’re expanding that work with two new programs: the Cisco AI Business Practitioner Learning Path and the Cisco AI Technical Practitioner Certification. You can learn more below. 

Even as AI transforms work, people remain the defining force of the future. The essential question becomes: How are we equipping and empowering individuals with the skills they need to thrive? By embracing continuous learning as our greatest advantage, we can make this next wave of AI not just a technological revolution, but a deeply human one. 

Read the full report and press release:

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Francine Katsoudas

Executive Vice President

Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer