Students entering the workforce are often equipped with the technical tools they learned in school. Where they could be lacking is in development of soft skills.
While some studies show artificial intelligence has made entry-level jobs scarcer, one Lansing Community College dean said the opposite is true.
“Particularly being in a region with significant employers in hands-on industries, such as manufacturing and health care, AI hasn’t impacted many entry-level positions,” said Lee Gardner, dean of community education and workforce development at LCC. “These roles are ‘AI resistant’ to a certain extent, as companies rely on the physical nature of these positions.”
Gardner said there is nothing new about the need for employees to have communication skills, but he believes AI can act as a partner for those entering the workforce instead of a replacement.
“For more administrative roles, we have only seen AI lead to entry-level role transformations, not replacing entry-level positions,” he explained. “Many of our local companies are using AI to help increase the efficiencies of repetitive tasks or reporting. This is making many administrative entry-level positions more productive and creating a better use of employee time and labor.”
Carrie Rosingana, chief executive officer at Capital Area Michigan Works!, said mastery of soft skills can be the difference between a worker who makes the grade and one who exceeds expectations.
“Oftentimes, what separates a good employee from a great one is soft skills,” Rosingana explained. “A worker can have all of the technical knowledge available, but if they can’t communicate or show up to work on time, they’re likely to falter. We consistently receive feedback from employers about the importance of soft skills for hiring and retention.”
Rosingana said AI is likely to enhance entry-level jobs without replacing the need for people.
“I believe that, as artificial intelligence continues to grow, soft skills will become even more important,” she said. “AI can make a lot of jobs faster or easier, but people will always appreciate the human touch that is at the core of soft skills.”
Rosingana said Capital Area Michigan Works! offers a weekly professionalism workshop, free and open to the public, that teaches soft skills and why they’re important.
“Also, our adult and youth program participants both receive instruction on soft skills,” she said.
Rich Adams
Rich Adams was a print and broadcast journalist for more than four decades. When he is not watching his beloved Chicago Cubs, he is a regular featured writer for 517 Business.
