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The rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is causing concern among a majority of engineers, with many fearing that their jobs are at risk due to automation.
A recent study by Great Learning found that 67.5% of engineers feel their jobs are being negatively impacted by AI, while 87.5% believe that upskilling is critical to safeguarding their careers in the face of technological disruption.
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AI’s ability to automate routine tasks and perform complex data analysis is reshaping the engineering landscape.
According to estimates, 20-40% of engineering tasks could be automated within the next decade.
WHY ENGINEERS NEED TO UPSKLILL
The Great Learning Upskilling Trends Report 2024-25 highlighted that 87.5% of engineers believe upskilling is key to future-proofing their careers.
Additionally, 89% of engineers plan to acquire new hard skills, with AI and ML being the most in-demand areas. A staggering 86% have expressed a demand for upskilling in Generative AI.
Speaking on this shift, Dr Dinesh Seth, Dean of the School of Engineering & Technology at MIT World Peace University, Pune, noted, “The role of engineers is going to be hugely impacted as AI becomes more prevalent due to automation of routine tasks across all engineering disciplines.”
This is leading to less demand for certain kinds of traditional engineering jobs and triggering a shift towards roles that require higher-level problem-solving and integration of AI.
Engineers specialising in AI-related skills such as machine learning (ML) and data analytics are more likely to remain in demand, while those who fail to adapt may face job insecurity.
“Today’s engineers will need to evolve by focusing on supervising and interpreting AI outputs, integrating AI with existing systems and managing AI-driven processes,” Dr Seth added.
According to the professors, engineering jobs that involve repetitive or routine tasks, those having standard procedures or well-defined rules, and those relying heavily on data analysis are at higher risk of redundancy due to AI.
Dr Mangesh V Bedekar, Dean of the School of Computer Engineering & Technology, said, “As AI takes over more routine tasks, roles that require more advanced skills or human judgment will be more in demand.”
“Engineers who lack skills in AI and data analytics will find themselves at a disadvantage,” Dr Bedekar added.
ENGINEERING EMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS
Hari Krishnan Nair, Co-founder of Great Learning, commented, “One of the main reasons many of our engineering graduates are considered unemployable today is the misalignment between their skills and industry demands.”
According to the 2023 India Skills Report, only 46% of engineering graduates are deemed employable. This stems from significant academic gaps, particularly the lack of application-based education,” he adds
He also notes how standard engineering pedagogy often falls short in preparing freshers for the transition from graduation to the workplace.
“Inflexible curricula, insufficient focus on skills and competencies, and limited exposure to industry advancements further widen this gap,” he says.
He also mentions yet another hiring issue: the downturn in fresher hiring within the IT sector has worsened, with many top Indian IT firms delaying the onboarding of new graduates by over two years.
As a result, graduates are increasingly exploring alternative avenues to enhance their employability.
WHAT SKILLS DO ENGINEERS NEED NOW?
The rise of AI is already impacting the kind of engineers that employers are looking to hire. To stay relevant in the job market, engineers will have to focus on developing skills that complement AI technologies.
Engineers who can bridge the gap between traditional engineering roles and AI-driven systems are becoming highly sought after.
Engineers with skills in AI, machine learning, and data analytics are in high demand as companies look to integrate AI into their operations, Dr Seth said.
“Skills in creativity, complex problem-solving, and critical thinking would continue to remain valuable as these cannot be replaced with AI yet,” he added.
While many engineering tasks are at risk of automation, the rise of AI also brings new opportunities.
Dr Bedekar said: “Not everything is gloomy, however. AI is also expected to create new opportunities and transform existing roles, leading to a shift rather than an outright reduction in employment.”
“The rise of AI-augmented engineering will require engineers to work alongside AI systems. They will need to focus on tasks that require human creativity and complex decision-making, while AI would handle more of the data-driven and repetitive aspects,” he adds.
Moreover, Dr Seth noted that the number of job openings related to AI and data science has been growing leading to more campus placements in these fields.
Because of this, “Students with experience in AI projects, internships, or specialised courses are attracting more attention.”
“There is also a noticeable increase in recruitment by startups and tech companies focusing on AI innovations,” he says.
As AI continues to redefine the job market, engineers must embrace life-long learning to stay relevant.
“To survive and thrive in the new AI environment, engineers would need to embrace life-long learning, develop AI and data-science skills, and focus on roles that AI cannot easily replace,” added Dr Seth.
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