An estimated 1.6 million AI roles are open globally, against only about 518,000 qualified candidates, a gap that is reshaping how companies hire.
Train or pay
Over 90% of large enterprises are projected to face critical skills shortages this year, pushing firms to train internally and pay steep premiums rather than wait for the market to supply talent.
The result is a 56% pay premium for AI skilled workers and a scramble to reskill existing staff before competitors poach them. For employees, it is one of the clearest buyer's markets for a specific skill set in a generation.
