Deconstructing Jobs in the Age of AI: Skills, Work Redesign, and The Future of Work

"AI isn’t replacing people—it's augmenting them. The people who know how to use AI will replace those who don’t: "Redesigning jobs is about understanding which tasks humans excel at and which tasks AI can handle—then finding the perfect balance."

Guest:

Sania Khan

* Labor Economist, founder of Inflection Point Consulting, Chief Economist at a leading talent intelligence AI company, Senior Economist at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

Summary:

In this episode of Psych Tech @ Work, I welcome a new friend and brilliant Labor Economist Sania Khan, whose unique perspective blends macroeconomic labor trends, AI-driven work redesign, the evolution of skills, and the future of work

Sania shares insights from her experience at the Bureau of Labor Statistics and her work with emerging talent intelligence tools to tackle one of today’s hottest topics: how jobs are being fundamentally deconstructed into tasks, skills, and competencies.

We dig into how AI is reshaping work—from automating routine tasks to creating new opportunities—and what this means for businesses and individuals. Sania makes the case for job redesign as an essential forward looking strategy for organizations as they adapt to the increasing role of AI in redefining the rules of work.

We agree that the world of work will increasingly find itself tied to a skills based economy which will require solving the challenge of moving beyond buzzwords like “skills-based hiring” and focus on aligning emerging technologies with human potential.

This will require building consistent skills taxonomies, focusing on durable skills like problem-solving and critical thinking, and the gap between hype and reality when it comes to AI’s impact on the labor market. 

Topics Covered:

* Deconstructing Jobs with AI

* How AI is automating tasks within jobs, freeing workers for more meaningful work.

* The importance of job redesign to align organizational goals with evolving roles.

* Skills-Based Hiring and Skills Taxonomies

* Why a globally accepted definition of "skills" remains elusive and how this hinders interoperability across platforms.

* The challenge of relying on resumes and job descriptions as source materials for skills analysis.

* The Future of Work and AI's Impact

* AI’s dual role: creating efficiencies while raising concerns about job replacement.

* Predictions for future jobs—like AI specialists, prompt engineers, and responsible AI officers—and how organizations can prepare.

* Durable Skills and Adaptability

* Why “durable skills” like problem-solving, critical thinking, and agility will define professional success.

* How workers can future-proof their careers by learning to work with AI, not against it.

Takeaways:

* AI is reshaping work by automating routine tasks, but humans remain critical for complex, meaningful roles.

* Organizations must focus on job redesign to capitalize on AI while ensuring employees do meaningful, value-added work.

* Skills-based hiring is promising but hindered by inconsistent taxonomies and unreliable data sources.

* Durable skills—like critical thinking, problem-solving, and adaptability—are the key to navigating AI-driven change.

* Workers who learn to augment their skills with AI will have the greatest advantage.

* New roles like AI specialists, responsible AI officers, and prompt engineers will emerge as businesses adopt more advanced technologies.

Articles Discussed in the "Take It or Leave It" Segment:

* "Research: How GenAI is Already Impacting the Labor Market" – Harvard Business Review

* Summary: A data-backed look at how generative AI is reducing demand for automation-prone gig work while increasing competition in the labor market. Sania underscores the importance of becoming exceptional at your craft to remain competitive.

* "How AI Is Fueling Long-Term Job Growth" – Fast Company

* Summary: A positive perspective on AI’s role in creating new jobs, like AI specialists and data scientists. Sania challenges the overly optimistic forecasts, noting the need for realistic strategies to align skills with emerging roles.

This episode provides a compelling look at the intersection of technology, skills, and workforce transformation—a must-listen for leaders navigating the evolving world of work.

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