Bridging the gap: navigating the skills shortage through artificial intelligence

Spano, Alessandro

;Angius, Virginia

;Racis, Serena

2024-01-01

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Abstract

The skills shortage crisis is a multifaceted challenge impacting industries globally, prompting a need for collaborative and innovative solutions. At the same time, private, public, and non-profit organisations need significant changes to satisfy customers' and users' needs, given the growing demand for services and the limited availability of human resources. Recently, the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based tools started to attract growing interest, and both scholars and practitioners question the impact AI will have on the labour market and corporate processes. With its automation capacity, AI presents an opportunity to augment human capabilities, optimise workflows, and bridge the existing skill gaps. By strategically integrating AI solutions, organisations can enhance efficiency, reduce manual workloads, and unlock the untapped potential of their workforce. The main expected consequence of a widespread introduction of AI in private and public organisations is a reduction of human activities in some fields and an increase in others. At the same time, implementing AI-based tools and solutions comes with risks and critical aspects. This paper explores AI's transformative potential in addressing the skills shortage within private, non-profit, and public sector organisations. Concurrently, this paper explores the risks, benefits, and various implications of using AI in addressing the skill crisis and its potential impact on the skill gap. The study employs a systematic literature review rooted in intellectual capital theory to comprehensively understand how AI can serve as a transformative tool in mitigating skills shortages, investigating both advantages and critical aspects. The framework will be helpful for private, public and non-profit organisations to shape future strategies for recruiting human resources and restructuring internal processes.