How can you navigate the future of work?

Understanding emerging trends is crucial for both organisations and employees to navigate the complexities of digital transformation. As Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other technologies reshape job roles and responsibilities, staying informed helps businesses and employees adapt, ensuring they remain relevant and competitive.

Our latest findings emphasise the importance of addressing issues with talent retention and skills shortages to help maintain a resilient workforce.

Our Future of Work report highlights the trends impacting AI and its implementation, offering insights into the current and future tech landscape, with a comprehensive analysis of how it is transforming the workforce. Our 2025 Employment Trends Spring Update, based on a survey of almost 750 respondents, focuses on the latest world of work trends and the importance of upskilling, particularly in AI, to stay competitive in the evolving job market.

Read on to discover how AI is transforming roles and tips to navigate the future of work.

Which tech roles will be critical to AI success?

From our Employment Trends Spring Update, we can see that nearly nine out of ten employers (88%) are planning to hire in the next six months, with a focus on both permanent staff and temporary workers. It also highlights that the majority of employers (92%) have faced skill shortages in the last six months.

When looking specifically at roles that are critical for managing AI-driven projects and ensuring data integrity, Project Managers, Data Analysts, and Data Engineers are becoming increasingly more important across various industries.

Tasks like data analysis, digital marketing, and project management are also gaining prominence. These tasks are essential for leveraging AI to enhance productivity and drive business growth, but employers must source the right talent to do so.

With the growing demand for AI-related skills, employees need to upskill in areas such as machine learning, data science, and AI ethics to stay relevant. However, despite almost half (49%) of organisations recommending the use of AI tools in the workplace, 83% of professionals have not received any training or support from their employer to adopt AI technologies, highlighting a critical gap.

Importance of upskilling in AI

Advancements in AI are helping to reshape job roles and responsibilities not just within tech roles, but more broadly across different professions and industries. Repetitive tasks are becoming automated, for example, allowing employees to focus on more strategic and creative aspects of their roles.

In the modern workplace, continuous learning is essential and as technology evolves, employees must keep their soft skills up to date to stand out from the crowd in a competitive market.

Our 2025 Spring Update shows that almost seven in ten employers (67%) think the ability to learn and upskill is crucial for working effectively with AI tools, as well as the ability to adopt change (58%), critical thinking (52%) and communication skills (47%).

Top skills employers think are important for someone to possess to be able to work most effectively with AI tools:

• Ability to learn and upskill: 67%
• Ability to adopt change: 58%
• Critical thinking: 52%
• Judgement and decision-making: 47%
• Communication skills: 47%

Training is crucial to navigate the future of work

The importance of training programmes and initiatives designed to help professionals upskill in AI, such as online courses, workshops, and certification programmes, cannot be understated given the significant skills gaps highlighted in our research.

Upskilling in competencies that will enable employees to work with AI not only enhances career prospects but can also contribute to job security. Employees who invest in honing their skills to make the most out of what AI can offer can become better positioned to take on new roles and responsibilities. However, our 2025 Spring Update findings highlight that 45% of employers do not have access to the right skills to make the best use of AI, and less than half (48%) of employers offer any training or support to their staff for the use of AI, reiterating the need for targeted and effective training programmes.

Providing upskilling opportunities can also help tackle talent retention issues that are being faced by many organisations. More than two-fifths of professionals (42%) believe there is no scope to progress their career in their current organisation, and two thirds (65%) of employees expect to change jobs in the next 12 months, predominantly driven by a lack of progression opportunities. Therefore, providing opportunities to upskill and progress their career will not only help organisations to navigate the future of work, but also retain key talent.

Key takeaways: the future of AI

The impact of AI on the workforce is ever-growing and doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Roles are evolving and new tasks are emerging, meaning continuous upskilling is essential to stay competitive. These trends are relevant across various industries, and adaptability is key to navigating rapid technological changes.

It is important to take proactive steps in your career development by investing in learning and upskilling in AI. Staying ahead of technological trends is key to career growth and job security.

Organisations must also recognise the importance of addressing skills shortages and offering career progression opportunities to help attract and retain talent.

Want more insights into the latest trends shaping the world of world, as well as expert guidance to help you stay ahead in a competitive market? Read our Ireland Employment Trends – 2025 Spring Update.