Issue link: https://resources.twc.edu/i/1538725
1 The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars Future-Proofing the Workforce: Cultivating Early Talent for Prolonged Success in the Age of AI The Strategic Talent Challenge Generative AI and automation create exciting possibilities for efficiency and optimization. While there is certainly a place for these tools to influence the workforce, it is critical that we understand the role they play in how we work and the human talent that will always be central to that work. This is particularly true for roles typically filled by entry level and early career talent, where tasks like research and coding can more quickly be accomplished by AI. There is an opportunity for forward-thinking employers to capitalize on technology by empowering human talent. Particularly at the start of their careers, it is imperative to invest in experiential education programs that build skills for talent to thrive WITH the tools. Building talent pipelines that align with evolving technical needs, while also ensuring young professionals are equipped with adaptive, creative and collaborative capabilities that machines can't replicate, will ensure a stronger workforce, built for a sustainable future and empower more competitive workplaces and communities. A New Era for Entry-Level Work Contrary to headlines forecasting job apocalypse, the data tells a more nuanced story. Entry-level roles aren't vanishing overnight, but they are evolving. Routine, narrowly scoped tasks once reserved for junior employees are increasingly automated, meaning that new hires are now expected to perform with more independence, critical thinking and agility from day one. This evolution is creating an even greater strain on the "skills gap" – the divide between skills and experiences early talent gain from their higher-ed degrees versus what employers expect from new hires on day one. This challenge existed prior to the rise of AI and the importance of skills-first training and different modalities of experiential education become more important to ensure value and a pathway to success.