The AI talent shortage is creating new pathways in tech
A message from: WGU
Paul LaForge, vice president and dean of the School of Technology at WGU, joins Axios publisher Nicholas Johnston for a sponsored View From the Top moment.
Businesses are adopting AI faster than they can find workers with the skills to deploy it.
Why it's important: The conversation surrounding AI technology is shifting from job replacement to worker adaptation.
The World Economic Forum projects AI may displace 92 million jobs globally by 2030, but will simultaneously create 170 million new roles for a net gain of 78 million positions, with technology, data and AI among the fastest-growing roles.
- Many of those jobs will require workers who understand how AI systems work in real environments.
Okay, but: For many businesses, the harder challenge is finding qualified workers to deploy these systems.
- JobsByCulture estimates there are 1.6 million AI-related positions globally, but only 518,000 qualified workers.
- Another survey found 51% of technology leaders report shortages of workers with AI skills within their own organizations.
The impact: Organizations without enough AI talent may struggle to implement new technologies or remain competitive as automation reshapes industries.
- Some estimates place the global business cost of the AI workforce shortage at $5.5 trillion.
The landscape: Companies are already investing heavily in AI tools, and many are seeing measurable returns.
- According to Accenture's 2024 "Reinventing Enterprise Operations with Gen AI" report, 74% of organizations said their generative AI and automation investments either met or exceeded expectations.
- Nearly two-thirds said they plan to expand those efforts by 2026.
What you need to know: Western Governors University (WGU) recently launched a Bachelor of Science in AI Engineering, designed around these workforce demands.
The program focuses on applied AI deployment rather than isolated experimentation, teaching students how to integrate machine learning into real applications and manage AI infrastructure responsibly.
- Students also earn a Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals certification as part of the program.
Why now: The rise of AI engineering reflects how quickly the market has evolved.
- AI engineers help design, build and manage AI-powered systems in production environments.
- Their work can include integrating machine learning into applications, managing workflows and infrastructure, evaluating system reliability and building safeguards around human oversight and governance.
According to Onward Search, "AI engineer" is now the fastest-growing AI job category in 2026.
The benefits: WGU's competency-based structure is designed for working adults balancing jobs and family responsibilities while pursuing additional training.
- Rather than advancing through courses based on time spent in class, students progress by demonstrating mastery of specific job-relevant skills and competencies.
- For workforce planning, this can create a more predictable baseline of employee AI readiness, reducing cost and uncertainty around hiring and retaining workers with needed AI skills.
An expert take: Paul LaForge, vice president and dean of the department of computer science, software, AI and data at WGU, discussed the changing workforce demands during a recent Axios Live event in Atlanta sponsored by the university.
- "The B.S. in AI Engineering is not just for those who want to use models, but those who want to build models and the systems that support AI," he said.
The takeaway: As AI adoption expands, employers are increasingly looking for workers who can translate AI capabilities into practical business outcomes.
That shift is creating new opportunities for workers pursuing technical careers, especially those looking to strengthen their AI skills while continuing to work.
Get a free daily digest of the most important news in your backyard with Axios Raleigh.