Business Analytics and AI student presents her research at New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals

Lalita Rajput ‘27 (MS business analytics and AI) presented “AI and the Changing Workforce: Insights from Labor Market Data” at the NYATEP Fall Conference, October 5-7, 2026, in Albany, N.Y.

Lalita’s presentation grew out of her co-op as a business analyst with RIT Certified, where she has been researching the workforce development space, both regionally and nationally.

She says, “A distinctive aspect of this research is its focus on the NY SMART I-Corridor. My contribution involved analyzing regional labor-market data to examine how employer demand for AI-related skills is developing and what those changes could mean for workforce preparation.

“I identified leadership and communication as important skills accompanying employer demand for AI capabilities. I also found that project management and operations leadership roles showed substantially larger AI skill premiums, the percentage difference in average advertised salaries between postings requesting AI skills and all postings within the same role than highly technical roles such as software developer. These findings suggest that workforce training should extend beyond technical occupations, pairing AI skills with leadership and communication development.

“What makes this research particularly relevant is its regional focus on the NY SMART I-Corridor. It examines how AI is influencing employer demand and workforce skill needs within the region, helping connect broader conversations about AI to the needs of local employers and workers.

“Presenting at NYATEP was a meaningful opportunity to bring this regional perspective to a broader workforce development audience and share how labor market data can inform training and career preparation.”