AI Skills Top Global Talent Shortage
What happened
A ManpowerGroup survey of 39,000 employers across 41 countries reveals that AI-related skills are now the most difficult for companies to find. For the first time, demand for AI capabilities has overtaken engineering and traditional IT skills, with 72% of employers reporting difficulty filling roles.
Why it matters
- The overall global talent shortage has reached a 16-year high, with 75% of employers reporting difficulty in finding the talent they need. Countries like Japan, Germany, and Greece are experiencing the most severe shortages. - In the Asia Pacific and Middle East (APME) region, Japan (84%) and India (82%) report the most significant hiring challenges, while China (48%) is the least affected. Globally, Slovakia (87%) and Greece (84%) face the highest shortages. - While AI skills are in high demand, this doesn't always translate to higher pay. A Payscale report found that 55% of employers are not offering pay premiums for AI skills, with only 14% offering higher base pay. - The demand for specific AI roles is acute, with a 2024 McKinsey report showing that 78% of organizations struggled to find AI ethics specialists and 74% had difficulty finding skilled AI data scientists. - To cope with the talent gap, 53% of companies are reducing traditional educational requirements for open positions, and 52% are hiring additional HR staff specifically to acquire talent. - The tech industry is leading in AI skill adoption, with 86% of tech organizations using AI across multiple business functions, compared to the manufacturing sector, which lags at 62%. - Despite the demand for technical AI skills, employers are placing a high value on human-centered capabilities. A ManpowerGroup report found that communication, collaboration, and teamwork are the most sought-after skills globally. - The rise of AI is expected to create a net of 500,000 new jobs in the IT sector by 2026, with 2.3 million AI-specialized roles emerging while 1.8 million entry-level positions are displaced.
Key numbers
- A ManpowerGroup survey of 39,000 employers across 41 countries reveals that AI-related skills are now the most difficult for companies to find.
- For the first time, demand for AI capabilities has overtaken engineering and traditional IT skills, with 72% of employers reporting difficulty filling roles.
- - The overall global talent shortage has reached a 16-year high, with 75% of employers reporting difficulty in finding the talent they need.
- In the Asia Pacific and Middle East (APME) region, Japan (84%) and India (82%) report the most significant hiring challenges, while China (48%) is the least affected.
What happens next
- The rise of AI is expected to create a net of 500,000 new jobs in the IT sector by 2026, with 2.3 million AI-specialized roles emerging while 1.8 million entry-level positions are displaced.
Quick answers
What happened in AI Skills Top Global Talent Shortage?
A ManpowerGroup survey of 39,000 employers across 41 countries reveals that AI-related skills are now the most difficult for companies to find. For the first time, demand for AI capabilities has overtaken engineering and traditional IT skills, with 72% of employers reporting difficulty filling roles.
Why does AI Skills Top Global Talent Shortage matter?
The overall global talent shortage has reached a 16-year high, with 75% of employers reporting difficulty in finding the talent they need. Countries like Japan, Germany, and Greece are experiencing the most severe shortages. In the Asia Pacific and Middle East (APME) region, Japan (84%) and India (82%) report the most significant hiring challenges, while China (48%) is the least affected. Globally, Slovakia (87%) and Greece (84%) face the highest shortages. While AI skills are in high demand, this doesn't always translate to higher pay. A Payscale report found that 55% of employers are not offering pay premiums for AI skills, with only 14% offering higher base pay. The demand for specific AI roles is acute, with a 2024 McKinsey report showing that 78% of organizations struggled to find AI ethics specialists and 74% had difficulty finding skilled AI data scientists. To cope with the talent gap, 53% of companies are reducing traditional educational requirements for open positions, and 52% are hiring additional HR staff specifically to acquire talent. The tech industry is leading in AI skill adoption, with 86% of tech organizations using AI across multiple business functions, compared to the manufacturing sector, which lags at 62%. Despite the demand for technical AI skills, employers are placing a high value on human-centered capabilities. A ManpowerGroup report found that communication, collaboration, and teamwork are the most sought-after skills globally. The rise of AI is expected to create a net of 500,000 new jobs in the IT sector by 2026, with 2.3 million AI-specialized roles emerging while 1.8 million entry-level positions are displaced.
