The world today has moved beyond the question of “Will artificial intelligence replace humans?” to face a more pressing one: “What kind of humans will remain in the labor market?” While professional panic has dominated headlines, the facts are beginning to tell a different story: it is not one of the “annihilation” of jobs, but rather a radical transformation that is reshaping the global social and professional contract.

Time shrinkage and skill gap

In an alternative reading of the scene, Dr. Mohamed Al-Kayali, President of the International Federation of Information and Communication Technology (IFGICT), sees that we are not merely facing a passing technical evolution, but rather “time shrinkage” in skill cycles.

Al-Kayali emphasizes in his talk to Annahar that “the time gap must be bridged to prevent job displacement from turning into permanent unemployment. This requires transitioning from an education model that ends when work begins to a model of education parallel to professional work.”

Artificial Intelligence and the Job Market

Wage gaps and task disassembly

Technology today not only changes job titles but also acts as a tool for “disassembling tasks.”

According to Dr. Al-Kayali, this disassembly could lead to “economic fragility” if not handled carefully, as tasks performed by employees are broken down into automated digital tasks.

This reality is reflected in global labor market statistics for 2026, according to data from PricewaterhouseCoopers:

Skill Premium: Employees proficient in AI tools earn wages 56% higher than their colleagues lacking this skill.

Preference in Hiring: Resumes augmented with AI are 8-15% more likely to receive initial acceptance.

Emerging jobs in the age of AI 

In this context, AI has contributed to the emergence of job sectors that did not exist just a few years ago, and among the most prominent of these professions are:

• Prompt Engineering: which requires strong linguistic and technical skills to guide AI models toward optimal results.

• AI Ethics Specialists: to ensure algorithms are neutral and free from racial or gender bias.

• Content Auditors: overseeing digital outputs to ensure accuracy and prevent “technical hallucinations.”

• Green Technology Specialists: where AI is used to improve energy consumption and manage environmental resources.

Towards a New "Social Contract"

Al-Kayali explains that AI in its current state does not only create unemployment but “redistributes value.” He warns against leaving this process solely to market forces, as it will inevitably lead us toward fragility.

To face this challenge, Al-Kayali proposes a comprehensive update to the “social contract,” so that social protection, insurance, and retirement are tied to the “individual” rather than the “job.”

He also mentions the “digital productivity tax” model, which some European countries have begun to adopt, a tax aimed at refinancing human skill development and ensuring that AI operates within an ethical framework.

Al-Kayali emphasizes the role of the state in creating job security models that are conditional on professional transition.

He adds: “If companies are increasing their productivity through AI and reducing their workforce, the state’s duty here is to ensure reinvesting part of these digital profits into national retraining, to ensure there is no shortfall in protection against impending crises.”

The real challenge does not lie with the machine but in our ability to legislate and develop. In parallel with “lifelong learning” that individuals must adopt, there is also a need for flexible educational systems and adaptive legislation.

Dr. Al-Kayali summarizes the scene: “We can build an economy where humans supervise creativity, rather than being in a losing position against the machine.”

The future, therefore, does not erase jobs, but instead demands that we reshape our position as humans at the center of the production process, supported by legislation that protects the individual and enhances their skills.