AI Skills Now Hardest to Find Globally, 2026 Survey Shows

ManpowerGroup’s 2026 Talent Shortage Survey reveals that AI skills are the hardest capabilities for employers to find globally ^[1][2]. For the first time, AI model development and literacy have overtaken engineering and traditional IT as the most scarce talent ^[1][3]. Companies face increasing pressure to hire specialists who can build and manage advanced automated systems ^[2]. This data suggests a major shift in how businesses prioritize technical expertise during their digital transformations ^[3]. Details indicate that literacy in these systems is now a primary requirement for modern recruitment ^[1].