We’ve all heard the phrase ‘jack of all trades, master of none’ as being negatively associated with the workforce. But how true does this ring in ICT?

A survey undertaken by ACS’ Professional Development Board found that employees with people skills are increasingly in higher demand, surpassing even the demand for those with high-level technical skills.

With the coming of the Artificial Intelligence Revolution, where jobs most in demand will be related to AI, ICT businesses are recruiting employers with general and strong interpersonal skills.

“Technical experts can be found, but few have the requisite human skills,” the survey found.

Despite our future transitioning to AI, strong people skills are imperative to keep this industry afloat. ICT professionals are required to use their people skills to deal with customers, work on agile projects, and determine how to use AI to further their business.

“Higher conceptual and social capabilities will remain immune to AI for the longest period of time,” stated the report.

Recommendations

ACS recommends hiring people with good interpersonal skills. As one interviewee responded to the survey, “send us candidates with good people skills – we can teach the technical.”

This does not mean that the need for technical skills is diminished. Organisations hire employees with good technical skills, and a broader range of skills that are malleable enough to be honed with internal training.

The report stated ACS should strive to train employees with strong people skills, in particular people with post-graduate degrees who also have technical skills.

“ACS has a responsibility to develop people-skills focussed programmes to help overcome the limitations in technical people,” it said.

Australia lagging in the digital divide

Up until 2015, many jobs seemed like a scientific fantasy, yet as characteristic of the fast pace that ICT evolves, these jobs are here and in high demand, particularly in analytics.

However, according to this report, the Australian workforce is dire. Many recruiters reported having to source talent from outside the country, as they struggle to find people with the emerging skills necessary to keep up with the Artificial Intelligence Revolution.

Being a jack of all trades might just be better than being a master of one.

This report was compiled in response to CSIRO’s 2016 “Tomorrow’s Digitally Enabled Workforce” report.