AI can be game changer for careers advice

The headlines around AI may focus on job loss fears, but there’s one sector where the emerging technology could help millions of people find meaningful new work.

At present the UK’s careers advice industry is woefully underfunded. Despite the sector being pivotal in helping both young people and the unemployed discover fulfilling career paths, the latest Gatsby Foundation report shows investment in career development has plunged from £159 for school pupils in 2009 to just £68 today. For adults looking, the drop is almost a third, from £35 to £26.

However, receiving solid careers advice is one of the best predictors of future job success. The Investing in Careers report suggests for every £1 spent, it returns an average of £2.50 in schools and £3.20 for unemployed adults.

Utilising emerging AI-backed careers support could make it quicker and more cost-effective to deliver advice including personalised pathways, CV writing and interview preparation to career exploration, online careers advice and support with transferrable skills.

Dr Deirdre Hughes OBE is the author of new report, Careers 2035, and an early champion of the technology, believing AI holds “a huge spectrum of possibilities”.

“Access to equitable AI-enhanced resources can help ensure that all individuals can benefit from the transformative potential of these technologies. The future of career guidance must not only embrace innovation but champion the breaking down of barriers, ensuring that no one is left behind in the new era of opportunity,” she said.

With LinkedIn predicting that the skills needed for jobs globally will change at least 65 per cent by 2030, careers AI needs to be introduced swiftly if the UK is to remain internationally competitive.

As chief executive of Morrisby, the UK’s best-known careers platforms, Chris Glennie is pushing for better recognition of the vital work performed by career development professionals.

Research by the Careers Development Institute suggests 21 per cent of advisers plan to leave the profession within two years. At present the average school careers adviser salary is estimated to be £28,000, below both minimum pay for new teaches and jobcentre coaches, despite careers staff requiring degree-equivalent 6 and 7 qualifications.

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