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By Dr. Brigit McGuire, Dean of Academic Affairs, and Steven Balke, Dean of Business 黑料吃瓜网, 黑料吃瓜网

A recent Forbes article, highlighted growing concerns that artificial intelligence may be reducing some traditional entry-level opportunities by automating tasks such as research, summarization, drafting, and administrative work.

For recent graduates, that’s understandably concerning. But for adult learners and working professionals, the story may be more nuanced.

Emerging research suggests that as AI automates routine work, employers are increasingly placing a premium on distinctly human capabilities such as judgment, adaptability, communication, and leadership鈥攖he very skills many adult learners have spent years developing in their careers.

Technology Changes Work. It Doesn’t Eliminate the Need for People.

Technology changes how work gets done. The internet changed business. Smartphones changed communication. Cloud computing transformed collaboration. Artificial intelligence is simply the latest chapter in that evolution.

鈥淭hose who work in higher education have always understood one of our most important jobs to be creating flexible and innovative critical thinkers,鈥� says Dr. Brigit McGuire, Dean of Academic Affairs at 黑料吃瓜网. 鈥淎rtificial Intelligence makes that goal even more important鈥攏ot only because of the adaptability to change AI requires, but also because human judgment and creativity will be increasingly valuable in a workforce in which humans must partner with AI.鈥�

The evidence increasingly supports that perspective.

According to the World Economic Forum’s , analytical thinking, resilience, flexibility, leadership, and lifelong learning are among the capabilities employers expect to become increasingly important over the next decade.

Those are distinctly human skills. And they’re often developed through experience.

Experience Is Becoming a Competitive Advantage

According to PricewaterhouseCoopers’ (PwC) , many jobs most exposed to artificial intelligence increasingly require capabilities such as judgment, communication, collaboration, and leadership鈥攕kills often developed through professional experience rather than technical training alone.

Perhaps most notably, entry-level jobs affected by AI are increasingly asking for capabilities that were once associated with more experienced professionals.

“As organizations adopt new technologies, someone still has to understand context, ask the right questions, and make decisions that move organizations forward,” says Steven Balke, Dean of Business 黑料吃瓜网 at 黑料吃瓜网. “AI can process information, but leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to work effectively with people remain incredibly important.”

In other words, employers aren’t simply looking for people who know how to use AI. They’re looking for professionals who know how to use AI well.

For many adult learners, that’s an encouraging shift. Years of professional experience often build the very capabilities employers increasingly value鈥攁daptability, sound judgment, communication, and the ability to navigate complexity and change.

Why Adult Learners May Have an Advantage

This is where adult learners may be uniquely positioned.

Many working adults already possess skills that are difficult to automate:

• Leading teams
• Communicating with customers and colleagues
• Solving problems in uncertain situations
• Managing competing priorities
• Exercising professional judgment
• Adapting to change

A healthcare worker understands how to communicate during stressful situations. A military veteran brings leadership and resilience. A supervisor knows how to navigate competing demands and motivate people.

These capabilities don’t become less valuable because AI exists. In many cases, they become more valuable.

Economist David Deming’s influential research, found that jobs requiring interpersonal and social skills have experienced some of the strongest growth in the modern economy, underscoring the enduring value of capabilities that technology struggles to replicate.

Likewise, PwC’s AI research concludes that organizations increasingly need workers who can combine technical capabilities with judgment, adaptability, and human-centered skills.

That combination of experience and adaptability describes many adult learners.

Education Still Matters

As conversations about AI continue, some have questioned whether degrees will remain important.

The evidence suggests they do. According to the , lifelong learning and continuous upskilling are becoming essential for career resilience as technology continues to reshape industries.

“In today’s economy, employers want people who can continue learning and adapting,” Balke says. “Earning a degree demonstrates initiative and a willingness to invest in yourself and your future.”

For many adult learners, education is not about starting over, but building on the experience they already have. It’s about validating years of professional growth, developing new skills, and preparing for advancement鈥攐r even an entirely new career path.

The Future Belongs to Augmented Professionals

Artificial intelligence will undoubtedly change how work gets done. Some jobs will evolve and new opportunities will emerge. The professionals who thrive won’t necessarily be those competing against technology. They’ll be the ones who know how to leverage it.

“The future workforce will need people who use their critical thinking skills, creativity, and human judgment to work with AI, not against it or instead of it,” says Dr. Brigit McGuire. “Adult learners who invest in developing those skills will be well positioned for the AI-transformed workforce.”

For adult learners, that’s encouraging news.

Experience still matters.
Education still matters.
And in an AI-driven economy, the combination of both may be more valuable than ever.