The Job Market Is Shifting Again, and We're Not Talking About It Clearly

If you look back at the loss of coal mining jobs in the UK in the 80s or manufacturing jobs in the US in the 90s, the pattern feels familiar.

Technology and globalisation reshaped entire industries. The promise was that new types of work would emerge. But many people were left without real pathways to reskill, and the safety nets didn't match the scale of the transition.

I'm starting to see echoes of that now with the rise of AI.

Right now, highly qualified people who were in demand just a few years ago are applying for dozens of roles and getting zero response. Not because they're lacking skills, but because demand has shifted faster than anyone expected.

And, no one seems to be discussing what happens next.

If technology is accelerating and roles are being reshaped, where should people put their energy?

My view is that the differentiator will be the things AI can't replicate.

As we get more immersed in tech, what truly sets us apart is how we connect as people.

Communication. Trust. Empathy. Collaboration. The ability to build relationships and solve problems in a human way.

That's where opportunity will sit.

And it raises bigger questions we're not addressing enough.

• What support do we have for people being displaced?

• What's the plan for graduates coming out of uni into markets with fewer entry-level roles?

• Should we be leaning into apprenticeship-style pathways that focus on real-world experience and human skills instead of relying solely on traditional early education?

I'm seeing the shift every day. I don't think we're having the conversations we need yet.

What are you seeing?