What will be the new value of human work in a few years, and is entrepreneurship a safe bet? Picture this:
The year is 2028, and the world has transformed with the quiet efficiency of the latest advancements in artificial intelligence. Financial institutions now operate with just a handful of human employees; AI systems handle loans, detect fraud and offer personalised financial advice in seconds.
Courtrooms have fewer lawyers, legal AI drafts court documents which are filed at the press of a button. Supermarkets once filled with cashiers and packers now run on automated checkout systems, and AI-driven inventory control with heightened security details.
In corporate Jamaica, administrative assistants are a rarity; meetings are organised by AI, and transcribed and summarised in real-time by virtual assistants. Marketing departments are whittled down, as entire marketing campaigns are developed and deployed by AI-driven content engines, eliminating the need for traditional specialists, brand managers, strategists and copywriters.
Whether you’re currently in the workforce or will soon join, the projections for the future of jobs and careers are staggering. Yet, this is just the tip of the iceberg for the careers that are expected to be most impacted over the next 24 months. And still, the tech pundits have warned that their projections might be too conservative.
Transformation could be far more drastic, perhaps even unfathomable, as competition heats up, and unexpected breakthroughs occur, as we witnessed a few weeks ago with the disruptive entry of China’s Deepseek to the AI big leagues.
According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, some 22 per cent of jobs worldwide will be disrupted by AI by 2030, and McKinsey & Company predicts that up to 50 per cent of all work tasks could be automated. Closer to home, a Caribbean Development Bank report warns that automation could impact up to 60 per cent of jobs in some industries across the region, particularly in sectors like administration, finance and customer service.
This means that millions of jobs – once considered stable – will no longer exist, while new opportunities will emerge for those who know how to adapt. This isn’t a future problem; it’s a now problem. We all need to prepare so we don’t get left behind.
Which leads us back to the question I posed at the beginning: What will be the new value of human work in a few years, and is entrepreneurship a safe bet? In this era, the value of human work will lie in ingenuity, relationship building, ideation and creativity, empathy and adaptability. Entrepreneurship is not a guaranteed safe bet, but for those who understand and can solve complex problems that people face in real everyday life, for those who know how to be nimble, effective, enterprising and risk taking, it might be the best choice.
No career is entirely AI-proof, but some are more resilient to automation due to their reliance on human creativity, emotional intelligence, ethical decision-making and specialised expertise.
For Jamaicans, entrepreneurship will be a way to secure financial independence and stay employed as we prepare for the future of work, and the closest to an AI-proof career as possible. Here is why:
1. Jobs are disappearing, but business opportunities are growing: McKinsey’s 2025 Future of Work Report confirms that entrepreneurship is driving global economic shifts, noting that self-employment, digital business ownership, and independent contracting are growing three times faster than traditional jobs. The people who adapt and create businesses have a better chance to thrive. Those waiting for a safer career path might never find one.
2. AI won’t replace entrepreneurs; it will make them rich. One of the most fascinating predictions regarding AI’s impact on business is that we may see our first billionaire who operates a business with no employees. AI can be used to automate operations, scale faster, and reduce costs. There has never been a better time to operate a substantial, highly successful enterprise as a solo entrepreneur, or a business that employs very few people.
3. Entrepreneurship has a great flexibility; it’s like the new spice of life! You can’t try many disciplines, a variety of vocations and industries and never get bored. You will be exhausted, and it will be up and down, but you’ll never run out of ideas to try.
4. Business will always be about people! AI can’t negotiate deals, create strategic networks, or develop a compelling business vision. The best entrepreneurs will understand customers deeply, form partnerships, and inspire teams.
5. AI-driven marketing can put small brands on the same playfield as big corporations, globally. AI-enhanced e-commerce platforms make it easier than ever to sell anywhere in the world from Jamaica.
6. More and more, it’s become clear that the global economy favours and rewards business = owners rather than employees. In most countries, Jamaica being no exception, it is becoming harder to live comfortably working a single 9-to-5 job. Hustle and gig culture is here to stay.
If you are thinking about your future, especially as a youth, the answer is clear. Eentrepreneurship shouldn’t be a last resort; it should probably be the top contender.
One love!
Yaneek Page is the programme lead for Market Entry USA, and a certified trainer in [email protected]
