ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE FUTURE OF PROFESSIONS: FEATURES OF CAREER GUIDANCE WORK WITH SCHOOLCHILDREN

Abstract

The article is aimed at analyzing the transformation of the labor market under the influence of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and examining the specific features of career guidance for school students in these conditions. The relevance of the study is determined by the growing need to prepare the younger generation for rapidly changing professional requirements driven by automation and the widespread integration of AI systems. The research purpose is to identify promising directions for the use of AI in school-based career guidance that facilitate informed and effective decision-making regarding students’ professional pathways in a rapidly evolving labor market. The methodological framework includes a theoretical analysis of literature on career guidance and artificial intelligence, as well as a survey of 133 school students in Astana using the author-developed questionnaire “The Influence of Artificial Intelligence on Professions.” The findings indicate that students are aware of the impact of AI on the labor market, recognize professions that are susceptible to automation, and note the emergence of new occupations requiring AI-related skills, creativity, adaptability, critical thinking, and communication abilities. The analysis of emerging and disappearing professions enabled to determine key directions for updating career guidance practices: the integration of interactive AI-based tools for self-assessment of interests and abilities, familiarization with emerging professions, and the development of soft skills and competencies necessary for effective human–AI interaction. The conclusions emphasize that career guidance must be a multi-component and continuous process beginning in early school years, incorporating both educational and digital approaches utilizing AI tools. The proposed recommendations contribute to fostering informed professional choices among school students in the context of a rapidly changing economy.