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.
- 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.
