- A fifth of workers lack creative/digital skills for the future marked by AI
- Employers and employees are responsible for upskilling, Adobe says
- Adobe wants to train 30 million people by 2030
Nearly two in three (65%) job seekers in the UK believe AI skills are now essential to landing their dream role, yet few potential employees have the opportunity to gain those skills, putting them at risk of being left behind, new research from Adobe claims.
It found that an alarming one in five (19%) workers now believe they lack the creative and digital skills they need for a future shaped by AI, but Adobe’s research goes a step further by highlighting the disproportionate AI readiness among the workforce.
The company found that non-job seekers are twice as likely to feel unprepared for future employment, possibly because their relative job security prevents them from feeling like they need to continually improve their skills.
Along these lines, a third of hiring managers now report a significant gap in AI and automation skills, but Adobe has big plans to ramp up its training efforts to close that gap.
Adobe vice president highlights the role of AI in the creative field
By the end of 2025, the company will have already upskilled as part of its Digital Academy program, but by 2030 it hopes to have reached 30 million on platforms such as YouTube, LinkedIn and Coursera.
talking to TechRadar ProVice President of International Marketing Simon Morris explained that participants would earn LinkedIn microcredentials and badges to help validate their learning, as well as access to Behance Pro for job opportunities within Adobe fields.
Morris also confirmed that these courses would be free to all, with no background requirements.
“We’re pretty sure people recognize that AI will give them that competitive advantage,” he told us.
When asked who is responsible for improving the teams’ skills, Morris explained that it is a joint effort. Employers should offer training and encourage ongoing development (he cited Adobe’s regular open question-and-answer sessions for staff), but employees must also display a growth mindset to take advantage of such opportunities.
Discussing the impacts of AI on the workforce, Morris also detailed his vision for AI, which he defined as “augmented intelligence”; in other words, a tool to amplify human creativity, not replace it.
“We really believe strongly in transparency and protecting creator rights,” he added.
With AI, Adobe has seen a lowering of the barrier to entry into creative fields, but also a raising of the ceiling. That is, companies can produce more and that is why they expect more from creatives.
Looking ahead, the need for an AI-ready workforce is clear: 45% of UK hiring managers agree that AI and automation skills are the most sought-after skills among new employees.
In addition to taking advantage of these opportunities, Adobe’s Future Skills research reveals a growth in the importance of building a personal brand, suggesting that a brand could be the future CV.
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