ISTANBUL

As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly advances and more and more companies adopt the technology to streamline operations and prioritize automation instead of human labor amid massive layoffs, experts say that the job market is shifting towards a hybrid model.

Major tech companies like Amazon, Meta, and Google have laid off tens and thousands of workers so far to opt for AI to do the routine tasks instead of humans, but data supposes that AI is reshaping these tasks instead of eliminating entire professions.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently reported that tech development and energy transition are creating demand for new skills that did not exist a decade ago.

While automation is indeed replacing humans in routine tasks, the report suggests it is also boosting the need for expertise in sectors like cloud computing, data visualization, and big data analysis.

Fatih Uysal, CEO of Turkish employment platform Kariyer.net, told Anadolu that the current shift in the job market should be viewed through a different lens.

“Calculators didn’t replace teachers — they transformed education,” he said, citing past fears of rising technological impact on classrooms.

“AI should also be evaluated from the same historical perspective,” he noted, arguing that routine and data-intensive became automated but uniquely human requirements like analytical thinking, creativity, empathy, and strategic decision-making will become more valuable.

“We are witnessing the rise of professionals with high data literacy,” he said, noting the increasing number of hybrid positions, which bridge the gap between technical tech-related skills and traditional business knowledge.

“The key driver in the labor market will be the ability to adapt to the rapidly changing skill requirements,” he added.

Uysal stated that the legal sector could be considered as a prime example, as job listings in the field are expected to outperform general trends by roughly 28 points in 2024 and 31 points in 2025.

“The rise of new domains like regulation, data protection, and AI governance shows that the legal field positions AI as a tool that will boost the work capacity instead of threatening it,” he said.

He noted that finance and human resources fields are also using AI as a decision-making support system to allow professionals to focus on higher value-added work.

“Of course, the scope of some roles will narrow and some skills will lose their importance, but what we’re seeing is the rise of new hybrid positions,” he said.

“It’s not about replacing humans but about boosting human capacity,” he added.

*Writing by Emir Yildirim