AI skills in high demand

The demand for AI skills has reached high levels, despite the UK jobs market being on a ‘downward trajectory’, finds a new report.

Data shows that overall job postings dropped by 1.2% in recent months – a tenth consecutive decrease.

However, the WilsonHCG report believes that the demand for AI skills is growing so rapidly that many businesses will struggle to fill these roles.

Commenting on the findings, Craig Weeney, EVP of global strategic talent solutions at WilsonHCG, said, “Despite challenging economic conditions, and an overall fall in job postings, AI is the outlier, and demand for expertise has remained particularly strong.

“It’s no secret that these areas of technology will be pivotal in the future of almost every industry. However, many employers will struggle to fill roles as a result of the major ongoing skills shortages in the technology and other STEM remits.

“With a talent deficit impacting many businesses, adopting a skills-first approach to recruitment is vital. If employers are seeking professionals with a clear track record of working in AI, they will really struggle, as talent pools of any real scale simply don’t exist yet.

“Instead, companies need to look to source those with the skills and understanding of emerging technologies and at how those people can be integrated, regardless of their backgrounds, qualifications or employment histories. This essentially means looking past the surface-level indications of talent and looking deeper into their abilities, softer skills, and growth potential.

“Given the competitive business advantage that AI can offer, ensuring that recruitment strategies are correctly aligned and that there is a continued investment in upskilling existing employees, will be key.”

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