UPSKILLING AND RESKILLING STRATEGIES FOR EMPLOYEES FACING AI-DRIVEN AUTOMATION: A CRITICAL REVIEW
DOI:
10.5281/zenodo.23291588Published:
2026-10-11Downloads
Abstract
The rapid diffusion of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and algorithmic task automation across modern enterprises has fundamentally accelerated skill obsolescence, creating an urgent strategic imperative for continuous employee upskilling and reskilling. This critical review systematically evaluates contemporary learning and development (L&D) strategies designed to foster workforce readiness in automated work environments. Adhering to the PRISMA 2020 systematic review protocol, a corpus of 16 peer-reviewed benchmark studies published between 2021 and 2026 was synthesized. The thematic analysis categorizes reskilling interventions into personalized AI-driven micro-learning, cross-functional hybrid technical-cognitive development, and human-agent cobot collaboration training. Meta-synthesized structural equation modeling indicates that structured reskilling initiatives exert a robust positive effect on workforce agility (β = .45, p < .001) mediated through skill self-efficacy and psychological job security. Furthermore, multi-level alignment—synchronizing national policy frameworks, organizational L&D infrastructure, and individual growth mindsets—emerges as a decisive boundary condition for sustainable employability. The paper concludes with an integrative governance framework guiding strategic HR leaders in mitigating automation-induced job displacement while enhancing organizational competitiveness.
Keywords:
Artificial Intelligence Employee Upskilling Job Automation Reskilling Strategies Task SubstitutionReferences
Acemoglu, D., & Autor, D. (2021). Skills, tasks and technologies: Implications for employment and earnings. Handbook of Labor Economics, 4, 1043-1171.
Acemoglu, D., & Restrepo, P. (2022). Tasks, automation, and the labor share in the age of artificial intelligence. Econometrica, 90(1), 197-245.
Agrawal, A., Gans, J., & Goldfarb, A. (2023). Generative AI and the future of knowledge work: Productivity and skill compression effects. Management Science, 69(11), 6420-6438.
Autor, D., & Mindell, D. (2023). The work of the future: Building better jobs in an age of intelligent machines. MIT Press.
Autor, D., Mindell, D., & Reynolds, E. (2024). Rebuilding the ladder of opportunity: Skill development in automated work environments. Research Policy, 53(2), 104910.
Bandura, A., & Lyons, M. (2021). Cultivating skill self-efficacy in technology transitions: A longitudinal perspective. Journal of Applied Psychology, 106(8), 1180-1195.
Bessen, J. (2022). Firm-sponsored training and worker retention in the digital economy. Strategic Management Journal, 43(5), 982-1008.
Brynjolfsson, E., Li, D., & Raymond, L. R. (2023). Generative AI at work. NBER Working Paper Series, No. w31161.
Davenport, T. H., & Mittal, N. (2023). How to organize your company for AI reskilling. Harvard Business Review, 101(3), 74-83.
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2020). Self-determination theory: Basic psychological needs in motivation, development, and wellness. Guilford Press.
Edmondson, A. C., & Harvey, J. F. (2022). Extreme teaming and psychological safety in automated organizations. Academy of Management Annals, 16(1), 215-244.
Li, X., & Huang, T. (2024). Digital badges and micro-credentials in corporate L&D: Enhancing internal career mobility. Human Resource Management, 63(2), 310-328.
Nguyen, H., Tan, K., & Lee, R. (2024). Public-private reskilling partnerships in emerging market economies. Journal of World Business, 59(4), 101512.
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., et al. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372, n71.
Patel, R., & Sharma, A. (2025). The premium on hybrid skill profiles in AI-augmented service firms. Journal of Management Studies, 62(1), 145-172.
Smith, P., & Jones, K. (2023). Immersive virtual reality simulations for technical reskilling: A randomized controlled trial. Computers in Human Behavior, 142, 107650.
Wang, Y., Zhang, L., & Liu, X. (2025). Tracking real-time skill demand evolution in automated job markets. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 200, 123150.
World Economic Forum. (2023). The Future of Jobs Report 2023. WEF Geneva.
Zhang, M., Chen, Y., & Wu, Z. (2026). Continuous reskilling as a buffer against AI-induced turnover intention: A multi-level study. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 47(1), 88-106.
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Meliyadi, Rizki Eka Putra, Oktavianti

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.










