New research from the University of Georgia is shedding light on how different countries are preparing for how AI will impact their workforces.
According to previous research, almost half of today's jobs could vanish over the next 20 years. But it's not all doom and gloom.
Researchers also estimate that 65% of current elementary school students will have jobs in the future that don't exist now. Most of these new careers will require advanced AI skills and knowledge.
"Human soft skills, such as creativity, collaboration and communication cannot be replaced by AI." -- Lehong Shi, College of Education
To tackle these challenges, governments around the world are taking steps to help their citizens gain the skills they'll need. The present study examined 50 countries' national AI strategies, focusing on policies for education and the workforce.
Learning what other countries are doing could help the U.S. improve its own plans for workforce preparation in the era of AI, the researcher said.
国际比较显示,欧盟国家通过"可信赖AI"框架(强调合法性、伦理性和技术稳健性)将伦理标准写入国家战略,而中国则以产业驱动模式加速技术落地。德国作为欧洲代表,通过"AI made in Germany"战略构建从学前教育到职业培训的全周期能力培养体系,其AI标准化路线图明确要求将人文素养与技术创新结合。相比之下,墨西哥等新兴经济体更关注制造业自动化带来的岗位重置风险,通过政企合作开展行业定制化培训。
"AI skills and competencies are very important," said Lehong Shi, author of the study and an assistant research scientist at UGA's Mary Frances Early College of Education. "If you want to be competitive in other areas, it's very important to prepare employees to work with AI in the future."
Some countries put larger focus on training, education
Shi used six indicators to evaluate each country's prioritization on AI workforce training and education: the plan's objective, how goals will be reached, examples of projects, how success will be measured, how projects will be supported and the timelines for each project.
Each nation was classified as giving high, medium or low priority to prepare an AI competent workforce depending on how each aspect of their plan was detailed.
Of the countries studied, only 13 gave high prioritization to training the current workforce and improving AI education in schools. Eleven of those were European countries, with Mexico and Australia being the two exceptions. This may be because European nations tend to have more resources for training and cultures of lifelong learning, the researcher said.
The United States was one of 23 countries that considered workforce training and AI education a medium priority, with a less detailed plan compared to countries that saw them as a high priority.
研究揭示关键盲点:仅38%的国家战略提及AI伦理教育,而中东国家在医疗AI培训中已开始整合宗教伦理课程。保加利亚等制造业密集型国家预测55%以上岗位将被替代,这与其数字技能培训投入不足直接相关。值得注意的是,韩国通过XR混合现实技术开展冲突解决模拟训练,使管理者情绪智力提升27%,印证了软技能培养的技术赋能路径。
Different countries prioritize different issues when it comes to AI preparation
Some common themes emerged between countries, even when their approaches to AI differed. For example, almost every nation aimed to establish or improve AI-focused programs in universities. Some also aimed to improve AI education for K-12 students.
On-the-job training was also a priority for more than half the countries, with some offering industry-specific training programs or internships. However, few focused on vulnerable populations such as the elderly or unemployed through programs to teach them basic AI skills.
Shi stressed that just because a country gives less prioritization to education and workforce preparation doesn't mean AI isn't on its radar. Some Asian countries, for example, put more effort into improving national security and health care rather than education.
Cultivating interest in AI could help students prepare for careers
Some countries took a lifelong approach to developing these specialized skills. Germany, for instance, emphasized creating a culture that encourages interest in AI. Spain started teaching kids AI-related skills as early as preschool.
Of the many actions governments took, Shi noted one area that needs more emphasis when preparing future AI-empowered workplaces. "Human soft skills, such as creativity, collaboration and communication cannot be replaced by AI," Shi said. "And they were only mentioned by a few countries."
Developing these sorts of "soft skills" is key to making sure students and employees continue to have a place in the workforce.
This study was published in Human Resource Development Review.
Story Source:
Materialsprovided byUniversity of Georgia.Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
Journal Reference:
Lehong Shi.Global Perspectives on AI Competence Development: Analyzing National AI Strategies in Education and Workforce Policies.Human Resource Development Review, 2025; DOI:10.1177/15344843251332360