Skills to Learn to Avoid Redundancy

The UK labour market has entered a period of turbulence. Automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping industries, economic growth is sluggish, and employers are cautious about hiring. Recent data from the Office for National Statistics shows payrolled employee numbers fell by 117,000 between September 2024 and September 2025 (Redundancies). Research by the National Foundation for Educational Research warns that up to three million low‑skilled jobs in declining occupations could disappear by 2035 (Up to three million UK jobs at risk over the next decade …). On top of that, a Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development survey found that about one in six UK employers expect AI to reduce their workforce in the next year (One in six UK employees expect AI to cut jobs in the next …).

For people returning to work or switching careers, these trends mean you may be competing for fewer roles while technology takes over repetitive tasks. Yet redundancy risk doesn’t have to be inevitable. By choosing the right skills to learn and focusing on areas where humans and machines work together, you can build a future‑proof career.

Not every job will disappear, but tasks that are routine, repetitive or rule‑based are particularly vulnerable. Here are examples of roles and skills most likely to be automated:

• Administrative and secretarial tasks, such as generic office admin, scheduling and manual data entry (Up to three million UK jobs at risk over the next decade …).
• Customer service roles and call‑centre work that follow scripted interactions.
• Machine operations and trades involving repetitive manual processes (Up to three million UK jobs at risk over the next decade …).
• Basic data processing and bookkeeping.

If these tasks make up a significant part of your job, now is the time to start adding new capabilities that technology can’t easily replicate.

The safest careers combine uniquely human abilities with digital fluency. Empathy, critical thinking, ethical reasoning, problem‑solving and leadership are all attributes that machines struggle to emulate (Key skills to keep your job in the AI era). When you pair these strengths with confidence in using AI tools, you become more versatile and valuable.

Think of AI as a co‑pilot rather than a competitor. Professionals who understand how to use generative AI for tasks like research, drafting documents or analysing data can work faster and make better decisions. Employers increasingly need people who can bridge the gap between human insight and machine efficiency. By developing a hybrid skill set, you’ll be prepared for roles that grow as automation spreads rather than shrink.

AI literacy is no longer just for techies. Over half of UK cyber‑security businesses report staff already using AI day to day, and nearly two‑thirds expect their need for AI skills to grow in the next year (Cyber security skills in the UK labour market 2025). A separate study of ten million UK job listings found that roles asking for AI skills carry a salary premium of around 23 percent (One in six UK employees expect AI to cut jobs in the next …). These numbers show that AI knowledge is both in demand and rewarded.

Learning AI doesn’t mean you need to become a programmer. It starts with understanding what AI can and cannot do, how to use tools like ChatGPT responsibly, and how to apply them in your current role. For example, ChatGPT can draft customer emails, summarise reports and brainstorm ideas, freeing you to focus on higher‑value work. Investing time in these skills today will help you stay relevant tomorrow.

To make AI accessible to everyone, ivee has created an AI Masterclass series to take you from new to AI, to AI-native.. These short, friendly sessions are designed for people from non‑technical backgrounds want to get to grips with AI. You’ll master prompt engineering, industry-specific tools, and even build your own no-code AI agent, all designed to position you as an irresistible applicant.

Whether you’re returning after a career break, worried about redundancy, or simply curious about AI, ivee’s masterclasses will help you understand how these technologies can enhance your career. Join the ivee AI Masterclass to start your journey.