NORTH MANKATO — While headlines are filled with fears of jobs being lost to artificial intelligence, the classrooms at institutions such as South Central College will soon be filled with students studying for jobs that won’t be eliminated by AI.
And college presidents such as Ritu Raju, thanks to the continual work with industries who tell them where employee needs will be, are ready for both eventualities.
“Obviously, we pay close attention because we are trying to predict our student population,” said Raju, who has been at South Central for one year. “And this has been around for a while now. (And) it’s the first time in history that we have five generations in the workplace, and five generations in school.”
Specifically, it’s for Generation Alpha, which AI application Gemini describes as students born between 2013 and 2024, that post-secondary schools are preparing for now. That age group includes Post-Secondary Education Option students able to get credit while finishing high school.
Preceding them are baby boomers, Generation X, millennials and Generation Z/Zoomers, each with their own characteristics represented in society.
As people who have grown up in a world of AI, streaming media and virtual realities, Generation Alpha is looking ahead, choosing professions that are, as Raju described them, “AI adjacent” or “AI compatible.” Ultimately, however, not susceptible to being eliminated by AI.
“The jobs of the future will need knowledge and skills in AI,” she said. So faculty are finding ways to teach those skills, ethically and honestly, in curriculum. At the same time, students are seeking jobs that are tactile and creative.
The New York Post reported a survey commissioned by footwear maker Red Wing and conducted by Talker Research that shows this.
In a survey of 2,000 parents of Generation Alpha children ages 5-16, it was found 85% were already thinking about jobs and wanting them to be hands on. Specifically, 90% want jobs where they can help people and 87% want them to be creative positions.
This describes many of the jobs that Raju described as working with AI but needing a human touch. That includes jobs such as barber, HVAC installer or medical technician where AI can be used to analyze the situation and solution, but cannot actually do them.
It also describes many of the jobs that were emphasized when schools such as SCC were called vocational schools and today are referred to as community and technical colleges, as well as jobs that have been in greater demand as students pursued four-year degrees instead of technical education.
“That’s the thing,” she said, “it’s not human vs. AI, it’s the human with AI. … There are studies that show you can automate up to 30% of mundane tasks,” leaving the opportunity for humans to concentrate more on those hands-on and creative tasks. And they could expand the use of AI in areas such as helping people with disabilities live more full lives.
“Every wave of technology has that nervousness and anxiety, and then we adapt,” Raju said. In addition, concern about data centers makes AI even more complicated. “So for people looking to get a head start on the adaptation process, this is what I would suggest: Focus on durable skills.”
Formerly called soft skills, these skills include using deep knowledge — not something you get from AI, which can be more superficial — such as communication, honed human judgment and emotional intelligence. Those skills will help you excel anywhere, she said.
In the NY Post article, Dave Schneider, Red Wing chief marketing officer, said: “We want to keep encouraging that interest and exploration, and show that skilled trade jobs are worthwhile and shouldn’t be considered just a backup plan to four-year degrees.”