IT Leaders Prioritize Addressing AI Skill Concerns
CIO, Thursday, July 16th, 2026
With tech unemployment at 3.1%, IT and HR leaders are pouring budget into AI upskilling but struggle to measure its return.
Tech unemployment fell to 3.1% in May 2026, with AI engineers among the most in-demand roles alongside software developers and cybersecurity specialists.
CompTIA research finds 83% of IT leaders and HR professionals place high or moderately high priority on addressing skill concerns, and 62% expect AI training budgets to increase.
Training programs are being designed around AI fundamentals, data analysis, automation, and securing AI systems, though cost and ROI measurement remain obstacles.
A key challenge is translating training into workplace application, requiring organizations to embed AI into daily workflows rather than rely on one-off sessions.
The tech workforce is projected to grow twice as fast as the overall U.S.