Growing artificial intelligence skills gaps and adoption divides are threatening to exacerbate a labor shortage, new research conducted across more than a dozen countries shows.
The study—based on more than 12,000 workers and conducted by Randstad, the international HR consulting firm—found that while 75% of the companies examined are adopting AI, only just over a third, or 35%, of employees say that they have received AI training over the course of the last year.
In terms of which employees are acquiring AI skills, the divides are stark too, particularly along gender and age lines: Some 71% of workers who report to be skilled in AI are men, while just 29% are women—a staggering 42 percentage point gap.
The research also found that just one in five so-called Baby Boomers, broadly defined as workers born between the years 1946 and 1964, have been offered AI upskilling opportunities. For younger Gen Z workers, born between 1981 and 1996, that proportion is much higher at almost a half.
“Talent scarcity is a significant global challenge, and so equitable access to skilling, resources and opportunities needs to be a fundamental part of addressing this. However, when it comes to AI, demand continues to grow at an unprecedented rate, and so does the AI equity gap it is creating,” said Randstad CEO, Sander van ‘t Noordende, commenting on the findings.
He warned that, “unless we recognize and take active steps to address this, the pool of workers who are prepared for the future of work will be too small—creating even more shortages across industries.”
The data is particularly concerning considering a growing body of research showing that AI skills are set to transform the nature of the labor market and existing jobs.
Last year, a McKinsey analysis predicted that by 2030, gen AI could have automated 29.5% of the hours worked in the U.S. economy, up from about 21.5% at the time the forecast was published. Goldman Sachs, meanwhile, has projected that AI could automate up to the equivalent of 300 million full-time jobs in the U.S. and Europe.
In the report accompanying its research findings, Randstad provides a series of recommendations to address the AI skills gap and its potential effects.
Organizations, the group notes, must “adopt faster, more inclusive skilling approaches to ensure that all demographics can keep up with rapidly evolving AI technologies.” Companies must also “critically assess both the potential and limitations of AI, addressing biases and ensuring that talent is well-prepared to use the technology effectively.”
Randstad also urges employers to “understand the unique barriers different groups face in AI adoption and tailor skilling opportunities to meet these diverse needs” and to explore partnerships with “educational institutions and societal organizations” in order to “bridge AI skills gaps and ensure long-term equity across all demographics.”
Randstad’s study was conducted across Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America and is primarily based on data from 12,429 respondents in 15 countries. That data was collected over the course of two weeks in August 2024.