CompTIA: Add AI Fluency to the List of Desired Digital Skills

Active job seekers are aware of the growing impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the workforce and are adjusting their job search efforts accordingly, according to a new report from CompTIA, an IT trade association based in suburban Chicago.

CompTIA’s “Job Seeker Trends” report for January 2024 shows the market remains active, with 27% of respondents – about 44 million individuals – pursuing a new job or career change during the past three months. This includes people currently employed and those actively looking for work.

Two-thirds of active job seekers report being aware of discussions around AI and its potential impact on the workforce. All age groups are using or plan to use AI-enabled career tools to help with their job search. Millennials are most likely and Baby Boomers least likely to do so.

Understanding the fundamentals of AI are cited by 34% of job seekers as an important digital skill needed in today’s workforce. A net 90% of job seekers acknowledge the importance of digital skills generally regardless of industry or occupation category.

“It’s encouraging to see the vast majority of workers recognize the need for continuous learning and building their digital fluency in AI and other areas,” said Hannah Johnson, senior vice president, tech talent programs at CompTIA. “An investment in upskilling will serve them well whether they choose to stay in their current field or seek a fresh start in tech or another field.”

The time commitment required to look for a job remains the top challenge in pursuing a new opportunity, cited by 47% of job seekers, an increase of 4 percentage points since June 2023. Asked how they respond to lack of success in their job search, 49% of respondents said they will carry on and make the best of their current situation, and 28% will redouble efforts to pursue internal advancement opportunities with their current employer.

CompTIA’s “Job Seeker Trends” is based on an online survey of 1,001 individuals conducted in January 2024. Data was weighted to approximate a target sample of U.S. adults based on gender, education, age, race, and region.

Channel Impact^®

Channel partners must deal with a variety of effects impacting the workforce, ranging from widespread layoffs to technological advances that many workers see as threats to their job stability.