The Future of Work Has Arrived: AI, Skills & What’s Next

Learn what automotive, energy and materials companies can do to prepare for what’s next in an AI, skills-first landscape.

AI technology glowing on a circuit board, symbolizing innovation and the future of work.

The future of work is here. AI isn’t just changing how we work — it’s transforming who does the work, how quickly and with what skills.

If you’re leading workforce strategy in the automotive, energy or materials sectors, you’re navigating a landscape of rapid transformation. Electrification, sustainability mandates, supply chain volatility and digitalization are reshaping how work gets done. Now, AI — both generative and agentic — is accelerating that shift, redefining the very nature of jobs, skills and productivity.

Just five years ago, work was defined by rigid job titles and static org charts. Hiring models prioritized degrees over skills, and productivity growth in advanced economies hovered around 1% to 2% annually. Automation was largely confined to factory floors and back-office operations. Talent strategies focused on execution: fill the requisition, manage turnover, keep compensation competitive.

But that model was unprepared for what came next.

When the World Broke the Box: The Changing Workforce Model After the COVID-19 Pandemic

The pandemic shattered the traditional workforce model. Overnight, entire industries paused. Employers had to ask: What tasks truly define these jobs? Which can be done differently — or digitally?

McKinsey found that the pandemic compressed five years of digital adoption into one. Organizations began redeploying talent based on skills and tasks, not just roles. Flexibility became essential, not a perk.

This was the moment a fundamental truth emerged — skills matter more than job titles.

For automotive, energy and materials companies, this shift was especially pronounced. Remote diagnostics, digital twins and predictive maintenance became essential. The ability to redeploy skilled talent across locations and functions became a competitive advantage.

That was the first acceleration. The second came with AI.

The Arrival of Generative and Agentic AI

Just as industries were adapting, generative AI arrived. Unlike previous automation waves, AI now targets knowledge work, including engineering, design and operations — core functions in automotive, energy and materials, among other industries.

The data is striking:

Nearly half of employers (48%) worldwide are currently using generative AI tools, and another 21% plan to leverage them within the next 12 months, according to ManpowerGroup’s “Accelerating Adaptability” report.
40% of global jobs and 60% in advanced economies are exposed to AI, with half likely to be augmented and half at risk of displacement.
By 2030, 170 million new jobs will be created, even as 92 million are displaced, yielding a net gain of 78 million.
39% of core job skills will change by 2030, and 63% of employers cite skill gaps as the top barrier to transformation.
In AI-intensive industries, revenue per employee has grown nearly three times faster, and workers with AI skills earn up to a 56% wage premium.

Now, agentic AI is emerging. Unlike traditional AI that responds to prompts, agentic AI systems act autonomously — reasoning, planning and learning to complete goals. These AI agents can act independently, transforming workflows in engineering, supply chain and manufacturing.

For example:

In automotive R&D, agentic AI can simulate thousands of design iterations autonomously.
In energy, it can optimize grid performance in real time.
In materials science, it can accelerate discovery of new compounds through autonomous experimentation.

These aren’t future concepts. They’re already reshaping how work gets done.

The New Arc of Work: Jobs → Tasks → Skills → Marketplaces

This evolution hasn’t been linear — it’s been a cascade of transformation. These shifts — from pandemic-driven redeployment to the rise of generative and agentic AI — have fundamentally changed the world of work. The traditional model of fixed roles and static org charts no longer applies. Instead, we’re seeing a new arc of work emerge, one defined by tasks, skills and dynamic marketplaces.

Here’s how work is evolving:

Pre-2020: Jobs were rigid units; hiring was degree-first.
2020–22: The pandemic revealed the power of task-based redeployment and rapid reskilling.
2023–24: Generative AI deconstructed knowledge work; productivity dispersion widened.
2025+: We’ve entered the Task-Skill Era. Jobs are portfolios of tasks and skills. Internal talent marketplaces, contingent ecosystems and AI copilots now orchestrate work dynamically and autonomously.

This isn’t just a labor story — it’s a competitiveness story. The firms that flex talent fastest, reskill continuously and deploy AI responsibly will lead. Others risk being permanently outpaced.

Here’s How Manpower Empowers Employers to Lead in the Task-Skill Era

As disruption from AI reshapes how work gets done, employers in the automotive, energy and materials sectors are feeling the pressure. Generative and agentic AI are transforming core functions, but many companies are struggling to stay competitive.

According to ManpowerGroup’s research, top employers cite AI-related skill gaps as one of their most urgent concerns. And while digital technology is advancing rapidly, it still falls short in solving labor shortages or developing the human capabilities needed to scale innovation.

That’s where Manpower comes in. We help employers turn disruption into opportunity with solutions purpose-built for the future of work.

Here’s how we help employers thrive in the Task-Skill Era:

1. Move from Job Taxonomies to Skill Ontologies

With core job skills shifting dramatically in the coming years, employers must shift to a skills ontology — a dynamic map of capabilities across the workforce that enables agility.
Manpower helps companies design skill frameworks and workforce models that go beyond job titles, enabling faster talent acquisition, internal mobility and targeted reskilling.

2. Harness AI-Enabled Labor Market Insights

Organizations need real-time, global labor insights enabled by AI to anticipate shortages, identify emerging skill needs and pivot quickly — yet few have fully integrated and leveraged AI to gain the critical insights they need.
With Sophie AI™, ManpowerGroup’s proprietary AI-powered workforce intelligence platform, we deliver predictive insights and scalable solutions that once required entire consulting teams, helping employers stay ahead of disruption.

3. Redefine Talent Attraction and EVP

With 74% of employers unable to find talent with the skills they need, companies must revise their employee value proposition (EVP) to appeal to new talent pools, including tech talent, adjacent skill sets and underrepresented groups.
Manpower helps customize attraction strategies globally, adapting EVP to real-time candidate preferences.

4. Invest in Workforce Development Where Skills Are Scarce

Employers must become developers of talent, not just consumers — especially since many needed skills don’t currently exist at scale.
Manpower supports this shift through programs like MyPath and Apprenticeships, which identify high-potential talent; provide certifications in IT, logistics and advanced manufacturing; and build structured career pathways into critical roles.

Whether you're navigating the shift to EVs, scaling renewable energy projects or digitizing materials R&D, Manpower helps you build the workforce to match your ambition — with the skills, insights and adaptability to thrive in the Task-Skill Era.

What Comes Next? Partner with Manpower to Win in the New World of Work

We’re entering a new era where skills are the currency of work. The organizations and individuals who thrive won’t just adopt AI — they’ll rethink how work gets done. Productivity gains will come from those who embrace change early and use technology to unlock new ways of working.

At Manpower, we see the future not as one where jobs vanish, but as one of reinvention. It’s about creating better pathways for people and delivering stronger outcomes for businesses. As industries evolve, our approach to talent must evolve too.

The labor market has already shifted — from fixed roles to fluid tasks and now to skills in motion. With generative and agentic AI accelerating that shift, the next chapter is about building a dynamic, inclusive and resilient world of work.

So, here’s the real question: Are you ready to move beyond static job models and fully embrace a skills-first future?

The future of work is being written right now — and those who move first will define it. Let Manpower help you build the skills, resilience and agility to lead it. Contact us today.

About the Author

Isaac Hagen

Isaac Hagen, SVP of Emerging Industries at ManpowerGroup, brings 20+ years of talent strategy expertise. He partners with leaders in the Automotive, Energy, Materials and Real Estate sectors to tackle talent scarcity, AI and automation and workforce transformation.