Global AI Adoption Surges as Talent Shortage Poses Major Challenge

Businesses worldwide prioritize AI integration, but a lack of skilled professionals threatens progress, with reskilling and strategic hiring emerging as critical solutions.

Demand for AI talent has outpaced supply, with job postings for AI roles growing 21% annually since 2019, while compensation for AI professionals has risen 11% annually.
A Bain survey reveals that 44% of executives view a lack of in-house AI expertise as the primary barrier to generative AI implementation, ahead of data security concerns.
In India, 98% of business leaders prioritize AI adoption in 2025, but 54% of HR professionals report receiving fewer than half of job applications that meet required qualifications.
Key hiring challenges include finding candidates with technical skills like AI and software development, as well as soft skills such as communication and problem-solving.
Experts emphasize the need for companies to modernize technology stacks, align AI initiatives with strategic goals, and invest in employee training to bridge the skills gap by 2027.