The Deep View: AI raises the bar for human judgment at work

Posted on June 24, 2026 by michelleclarke2015
WORKFORCE

AI raises the bar for human judgment at work


It’s a tough time to be looking for a job in the age of AI. But executives say workers who can adapt to the times still have an edge. During a panel at VivaTech in Paris, business leaders discussed how AI is reshaping hiring. Sue Duke, LinkedIn’s head of global policy and economic graph, pointed to internal data showing that hiring across Europe is down 25% from pandemic-era highs and 15% year over year.

In the U.S., LinkedIn data shows hiring remains 24% below pre-pandemic levels and was down 6% year over year as of March. Even as hiring slows, employers say the roles that remain open increasingly demand a new mix of hard, soft, and AI skills. Companies are prioritizing candidates who can use AI tools effectively while bringing strengths that are harder to automate.

For many employers, that means knowing when to use AI, how to evaluate its outputs, and how to integrate it into existing workflows.

“We see the most resilience in hiring in roles that combine AI efficiency and unique human skills,” Duke said during the panel. Because fixed skill sets age quickly, human skills are becoming more important. Duke said adaptability and curiosity are essential to getting hired as AI reshapes the workplace. 

LinkedIn estimates that 70% of the skills used in most jobs will change by 2030, with AI acting as a major catalyst. As job requirements evolve, workers who can continuously learn and apply new technologies have an advantage. Software engineering offers a glimpse of what that shift looks like in practice.

Before generative AI, employers largely hired engineers for their coding ability. Today, tools like Codex and Claude Code can generate high-quality code, pushing companies to look beyond technical proficiency. Employers want engineers who can work alongside AI and help organizations integrate it effectively, said Ruth Harper, SVP and chief marketing and sustainability officer at Manpower Group, a global talent recruitment agency.

That requires cross-functional collaboration, change management, and the ability to bring colleagues along.“How do you drop AI into the workflow? How do you help your organization get comfortable with agents working next to your humans, for your humans? How are they part of the team? That is not a technology job,” Harper said.Still, leaders emphasize that hard skills like coding remain essential.”The combination [of skills] is what can be absolutely critical,” Harper said. “The technical skills are a given, but if you only have technical skills, somebody else is going to get to the top of the list first.”
The bar for landing a job keeps rising. As AI reshapes work across industries and experience levels, employers are looking for candidates who can adapt alongside it. Specialized expertise alone is no longer enough. Workers are increasingly expected to pair technical skills with emotional intelligence, strong communication, and a willingness to learn. In a world where more tasks are being automated, the most valuable employees may be those who can demonstrate they have deeply human advantages.Aaron Mok 
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About michelleclarke2015

Life event that changes all: Horse riding accident in Zimbabwe in 1993, a fractured skull et al including bipolar anxiety, chronic fatigue …. co-morbidities (Nietzche 'He who has the reason why can deal with any how' details my health history from 1993 to date). 17th 2017 August operation for breast cancer (no indications just an appointment came from BreastCheck through the Post). Trinity College Dublin Business Economics and Social Studies (but no degree) 1997-2003; UCD 1997/1998 night classes) essays, projects, writings. Trinity Horizon Programme 1997/98 (Centre for Women Studies Trinity College Dublin/St. Patrick's Foundation (Professor McKeon) EU Horizon funded: research study of 15 women (I was one of this group and it became the cornerstone of my journey to now 2017) over 9 mth period diagnosed with depression and their reintegration into society, with special emphasis on work, arts, further education; Notes from time at Trinity Horizon Project 1997/98; Articles written for Irishhealth.com 2003/2004; St Patricks Foundation monthly lecture notes for a specific period in time; Selection of Poetry including poems written by people I know; Quotations 1998-2017; other writings mainly with theme of social justice under the heading Citizen Journalism Ireland. Letters written to friends about life in Zimbabwe; Family history including Michael Comyn KC, my grandfather, my grandmother's family, the O'Donnellan ffrench Blake-Forsters; Moral wrong: An acrimonious divorce but the real injustice was the Catholic Church granting an annulment – you can read it and make your own judgment, I have mine. Topics I have written about include annual Brain Awareness week, Mashonaland Irish Associataion in Zimbabwe, Suicide (a life sentence to those left behind); Nostalgia: Tara Hill, Co. Meath.
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