KISSIMMEE, Fla. — As more studies are being completed predicting the impact that artificial intelligence, or AI for short, will have on the workforce, some professionals are returning to college or completing additional certifications to remain competitive.
A study by Tufts University’s research platform “Digital Planet” predicts over the next two to five years that the industries with the “steepest risks” to AI are information, finance and insurance, and professional, scientific and technical services.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics affirmed some of these predictions but also points to AI likely helping some careers. It predicts over the next seven years, AI is expected to impact jobs that can be easily replicated by generative AI. One case study named “medical transcriptionists and customer service representatives” as jobs that are predicted to see a decline in employment by nearly 5%.
For the last 14 years, Mateo Eraso has installed granite and kitchen countertops, though he’s also learning to enjoy something new: electrical work and using solar panels. Currently, Eraso is an electrical with PLC student at Northbridge University.
“I really want to get into the automation of what CNCs are doing in the granite business, and a lot of that is very electrical,” Eraso said. “You can’t just grandfather into these things anymore. So you do have to go look for these credentials now.”
Richard Matos is also coming back to school at Northbridge University after 20 years serving in the U.S. Army and working in information technology. He hopes to become an HVAC technician and eventually open his own business given his IT and military background.
“That’s when I thought about doing HVAC. There’s a huge demand in here in Central Florida for it. So, that’s actually, to be honest, the main reason,” Matos said. “My opinion is even if you learn how to do stuff hands on, you still got to keep up with technology regardless.”
Northbridge University President James Michael Burkett said they’re incorporating AI into the classroom to equip students in the long haul.
“You’re seeing exponential growth in Osceola County. So, what we do is we work to make sure that we can reskill and upscale the people that live here now to fill some of these high-skilled jobs, and they don’t have to import talent,” Burkett said.
“What we see a lot from students is one, there’s a group that are coming in that are wanting to upskill or reskill into career fields that are more AI resistant, and then in other areas with other programs that we have, like business and technology, it’s how do we integrate AI?” Burkett said.
Burkett said they’re actively developing curriculums on these trades because they say it aligns with job market demand.
“Right now, AI is such a fast-evolving technology that it’s hard to know what it’s going to be like in five or 10 years,” Burkett said. “We do know this: AI is not going to treat the patient in the medical facility. AI is not going to, for most cases, weld or it’s not going to come out and wire your house or work in HVAC when your AC breaks down in July and be that person that comes out at 2 in the morning.”
“So, construction, trades and health care are great career fields for people that are more concerned with how fast things are moving in some of the other fields, like business and technology, that we teach in, it’s how do we integrate?” he said.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts construction and extraction occupations will grow quickly from 2024 to 2034, saying more than 649,000 job openings are projected each year on average.