As artificial intelligence (Ai) continues to evolve, there is a growing narrative that it threatens human jobs. However, according to Lyndy van den Barselaar, Managing Director at ManpowerGroup South Africa, Ai is not a threat but a tremendous opportunity to enhance human potential and become truly indispensable in the workforce.
I spoke with Lyndy about this challenge and where Ai and Business leadership should be heading today.
Unemployment is a big problem particularly in South Africa where there is an overall 32% unemployment rate with a 45,5% unemployment rate for those under 35, and a massive 59% unemployment rate for those under the age of 25. The worldwide unemployment rate sits at only 5% and Sub-Saharan Africa at 6% but the majority of high unemployment states are found in Africa.
According to Layoffs.FYi, a site that tracks layoffs across the global tech sector, there were 283 180 jobs lost in 2023 as well as 108 591 layoffs from 376 companies globally so far in 2024. Many of these jobs have been impacted by the introduction of Ai and machine learning that is replacing the need for basic programing skills as well as monitoring skills in the cyber security industry.
With this background in mind I asked Lyndy about her perspective on Ai’s impact on unemployment and she contended that “AI might be able to crunch numbers and analyse data faster than you can say ‘algorithm,’ but it lacks the depth, creativity, and human factor that people offer,” says van den Barselaar. “AI isn’t about replacing humans with machines; it’s about unlocking the full potential of people by leveraging the power of technology.
She believes that Ai can replace the mundane, the repetitive, and the predictable tasks thereby freeing people up to tackle more complex and challenging problems. “It’s about creating a future where your unique expertise is more valuable than ever, where the specialist reigns supreme.” She adds
“Ai can process data, identify patterns, and complete tasks with remarkable speed and efficiency,” explains van den Barselaar. “For generalists, this rapid advancement in technology may seem daunting. However, it is important to remember that humans excel at adaptation. Just as we successfully navigated the transitions brought about by the rise of emails and the internet, we can also adapt to the integration of Ai. It is essential for generalists to learn new skills, embrace technological advancements, and find ways to collaborate with Ai rather than compete against it. By doing so, we can expand our roles to include ‘Ai collaborator,’ further enhancing our versatility in the workforce.”
Lyndy van den Barselaar Managing Director at ManpowerGroup South Africa
Becoming a “Human in the Loop”
To ensure relevance in the age of Ai, van den Barselaar suggests becoming a ‘human in the loop’ – someone who uses AI tools to their advantage while bringing their unique skills to the table.
“For instance, a seasoned financial analyst can use Ai algorithms to analyse market data and identify trends. However, it’s their deep understanding of financial markets and economic principles that enables them to interpret results and provide valuable insights,” she explains. “Similarly, a skilled data analyst in healthcare can utilise Ai to process patient data, but it’s their knowledge of the healthcare system that allows them to make meaningful recommendations.”
Business Profit VS employment creation
There is no doubt that we are seeing a drop in employment due to Ai and machine learning, alongside advances in robotics, that could well have a disastrous impact on employment over the next few years, if business leaders do not ensure that they are looking beyond pure profitability, and addressing skills development and training as well as career planning in a meaningful way.
We discussed the need for leaders in business to make a meaningful contribution to assisting staff in a process of transition to new adaptive technologies. Lyndy agrees that “developing the right skills for staff and the correct choice of post school studies are critical factors for those entering the workforce”. This together with corporate companies offering more work experience opportunities are two critical issues that need to be addressed in a meaningful way to turn the unemployment cycle around, particularly in South Africa.
The Manpower Group is an international workforce solutions company and with that perspective I asked if there were any examples that they were aware of, where new Ai tech related jobs had been created to replace those that are being lost due to Ai advancement. According to van den Barselaar, they are not aware of any at this stage but will be providing an update to this in a few months’ time and we look forward to having a follow-up discussion on these critical business challenges today.
