IMF's Critical Alert: New Skills Pivotal for AI Transformation in the Global Workforce

International Monetary Fund's Critical Warning: New Skills Will Play a Key Role in AI Transformation

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in an analysis published on January 14, 2026, announced that the extent to which artificial intelligence will contribute to global economies will depend on the adaptation capacity of employees and companies to this major technological change. The report, to which IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva also contributed, highlights the critical role of new skills in reshaping the future of the business world. This assessment reveals that a competency transformation encompassing all occupational groups, especially the IT sector, is inevitable.

Artificial Intelligence Impact and Evolving Skill Needs in the Business World

Emphasizing that digitalization and artificial intelligence are fundamentally transforming how businesses operate, the IMF notes that recent layoffs at major technology companies have affected even those segments most advanced in this transformation. According to the report, while automation processes eliminate some professions, they also create new tasks requiring different skills and entirely new occupational fields. This situation also brings alternative ways to increase prosperity for individuals.

Competency Transformation in the Global Workforce

• New Condition for Employment: Employees' ability to find jobs or retain their current positions will depend on their capacity to update rapidly changing skill sets or acquire entirely new competencies.
• Increasing Skill Demand: One in ten job postings in advanced economies and one in twenty in emerging economies require at least one new skill.
• Priority Areas: The IT sector, in particular, accounts for more than half of the demand for new skills in professional, technical, and administrative roles. Sector-specific competencies such as remote care and digital health in the healthcare sector, and social media expertise in marketing, are also prominent.

AI-Driven Concerns and Policy Requirements

Changing labor market dynamics are increasing job loss concerns among employees. The fact that approximately 40% of global jobs are at risk of AI-driven transformation deepens concerns about inequality of opportunity for some groups. In this context, comprehensive and proactive policy approaches aimed at preparing the workforce for the future and spreading the benefits gained from artificial intelligence to a wider audience are stated to be essential.

Returns on New Skills

According to the IMF's analysis, employees who acquire new skills can earn higher incomes. With examples from the UK and the US, it is observed that job postings requiring a new skill offer approximately 3% higher salaries; positions demanding four or more new skills promise 15% and 8.5% more compensation, respectively.

Policy Choices and Future Preparedness

Although AI-related skills offer high salary returns, the report states that these skills do not yet directly contribute to employment growth like other new competencies. Entry-level jobs being more exposed to the impact of artificial intelligence poses a significant challenge for young professionals at the start of their careers. Therefore, national policy choices stand out as a fundamental factor determining how prepared both employees and companies will be for the AI revolution. Investing in skills and supporting employees through job transition processes are critically important for the success of this transformation.

EdTech Turkey Editor Note

This report from the International Monetary Fund offers a crucial roadmap for the education technologies sector. Keeping the workforce's competencies up-to-date in the age of artificial intelligence will be decisive for the economic prosperity of individuals and societies. This situation indicates that the development of lifelong learning and digital literacy skills should be placed at the center of education and employment policies.