Research from Pearson estimates that AI could save workers in high-value tech roles about a day a week by 2029.

The learning company’s new Skills Outlook report, Solving the Tech Talent Gap from Within, examined how roles in the tech industry are being reshaped by automation and AI, urging employers to consider a strategy of ‘role design’ to solve talent needs and maintain competitiveness.

The research found that these highly valued workers will save around a day a week by 2029 – just through augmenting and automating key tasks with technology.

The research notes business leaders need to think creatively and proactively about redesigning roles to more effectively use technology and to help their employees use this saved time for upskilling.

This strategy helps employers better utilise current workers rather than replacing them with newly skilled ones – essentially solving talent needs from within their own workforce and providing job agility and security for these valued employees.

“In a world where Generative AI is rapidly transforming the world of work, tech leaders need to rethink and evolve skilling pathways, or risk being left with an underutilised, undervalued, and unprepared workforce,” Oliver Latham, regional sales lead for EMEA in Person’s enterprise learning and skills business unit said.

“By adopting a role redesign approach now, businesses can bridge talent gaps, achieve stronger growth and create the capacity they need without relying solely on external hiring.”

Recommended reading

• AI Adoption Stumbles as Report Highlights Employee-leadership Disconnect
• Most Tech Workers and Execs Pretend to Know More About AI Than They Do
• Is AI Now Essential in Recruitment?

Looking at the impact on hours spent on tasks within the roles in a working week, Pearson found that between 5.2 hours and 7.8 hours could be saved in 5 years’ time through effective use of technology – about a day.

This creates an opportunity to rethink how roles are structured and redefine what ‘core’ tasks will remain with human employees.

Pearson predicts that system software developers will save about 5.2 hours a week, and see the biggest potential impact from robotic process automation and internal processes.

Computer programmers are estimated to save 6.7 hours a week, with computer systems analysts saving 6.8.

System engineers and architects are expected to save 5.2 hours a week, but the biggest savings will be seen by computer network architects, at 7.8 hours.