Your questions about AI and transferable skills answered
- Will AI replace human workers?
- What are transferable skills?
- What transferable skills do employers look for?
Watch to Learn What Transferable Skills Employers Want Now!
Will AI take over human jobs?
If we’re being candid, when it comes to raw knowledge, it’s hard for human workers to beat artificial intelligence (AI).
After all, AI is tapping on giant databases to formulate its answers, while most of us will have problems remembering what our secondary school textbooks taught us on any given day.
But that doesn’t mean you’ll lose out to AI when it comes to the job market, because ultimately, employers want well-rounded employees.
The fact is, knowledge is merely the acquisition of facts and information, but wisdom is the ability to apply that knowledge and experience to make sound judgements.
Ko Hui Yun, Chief Operating Officer at All Saints Home, believes that transferable skills have changed with the advent of AI, and broadened the definition of such skills as well.
“Traditional strengths such as communication, teamwork, and leadership remain foundational, but the digital age demands more,” she said.
She is also a WSG Volunteer Career Advisor (VCA), a Workforce Singapore (WSG) community-driven initiative designed to support individuals in navigating their career journeys with confidence.
Launched with the aim of fostering career resilience and growth, the initiative connects individuals with industry experts from diverse industries who volunteer their time and expertise.
What are transferable skills?
Transferable skills are versatile abilities and competencies that can be applied across different jobs, industries, and career paths, regardless of where they were originally developed.
These skills include both soft skills like communication, problem-solving, leadership, teamwork, and time management, as well as technical abilities such as data analysis, project management, or digital literacy that have broad applications.
Skills that AI cannot replace
While artificial intelligence excels at processing data and executing routine tasks, it cannot replicate the nuanced human abilities that employers increasingly value. Critical thinking allows you to analyse complex situations, question assumptions, and make reasoned decisions that consider context and consequences beyond what algorithms can compute.
Emotional intelligence enables you to read social cues, build meaningful relationships, navigate workplace dynamics, and respond to others with empathy and understanding. Other AI-resistant transferable skills include creative problem-solving, ethical reasoning, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to inspire and motivate teams.
Unlike job-specific skills that are tied to particular roles or industries, transferable skills form the foundation of your professional toolkit and make you adaptable in a changing job market. They are gained through work experience, education, volunteering, or personal projects, and are particularly valuable during career transitions as they demonstrate to employers that you can bring relevant capabilities to new roles even if you lack direct experience in that specific field or industry.
Key transferable skills that employers want
Companies now look for adaptability, digital fluency, and critical thinking in how people engage with technology, Hui Yun added.
“It’s not simply about using AI tools, but about applying them responsibly, interpreting outputs with discernment, and integrating them with human creativity and empathy — qualities that remain uniquely human.”
Watch this video to learn more from Hui Yun to keep yourself competitive in the job market, and check out the AskWSG series on LinkedIn and Instagram for more career advice and tips!
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