Entry-level tech jobs requiring AI skills are up fivefold since 2025, as employers struggle to source critical orchestration, communication, and risk governance skills.
key findings at a glance
- agile sourcing: 63% of organizations name flexible talent models as their first-choice approach to closing AI skills gaps.
- cross-industry bidding war: non-tech companies are aggressively outbidding tech firms for software talent, with healthcare and life sciences paying up to 17% more.
- critical skill bottlenecks: 61% of employers report that finding talent with communication and stakeholder management skills is harder than sourcing technical skills alone, while risk governance demand doubled (+108%).
- the AI gender gap: women account for just 31% of professionals with emerging AI skills, highlighting a critical equity challenge in the evolving workforce.
Far from replacing tech talent, AI is reshaping demand and driving 86% of organizations to grow their tech headcount, according to Randstad’s latest global report, tech talent in transition: building the AI-ready workforce. To bridge critical skill gaps, organizations are buying, building and borrowing the talent they need to stay ahead.
buying: the contest for tech talent has moved beyond big tech
Demand for AI skills has expanded rapidly with postings requiring AI capabilities growing more than fivefold over the past year. Non-tech companies are aggressively outbidding traditional tech firms to secure talent, banking pays software engineers a median 13% premium, while healthcare and life sciences pay 17% more. As a result, hiring is surging, with 55% of non-tech organizations recruiting talent following tech sector layoffs.
building: AI orchestration and governance skills are in greatest demand
As AI automates routine execution, the bottleneck has shifted to people who orchestrate and oversee it. 61% of employers report that finding talent with human capabilities like critical thinking and communication is harder than sourcing technical skills alone. Risk governance is a major pressure point, with demand doubling (+108%) while talent supply grew by only 69%.
Addressing these expanding skill needs also requires a focus on equity; women currently account for just 31% of professionals with emerging AI skills, compared with 36% of those with established tech skills. This was getting smaller, with Gen Z women accounting for 37% of those with established tech skills but now only 32% of those with emerging AI skills, making closing the AI gender gap a critical priority for sustainable growth.
borrowing: flexible talent bridges the AI skills gap
To close AI skills gaps, 63% of organizations name flexible talent - contingent, freelance, contract and fractional models - as their first-choice approach. To support this agility, 92% of organizations use digital talent marketplaces, online platforms that connect employers directly with skilled talent, for recruitment, with 42% relying on them as their primary channel. Additionally, nearshore regional hubs stand out as the top delivery model for the next two years (35%).
"Far from replacing tech talent, AI is fundamentally redefining it. Employers need people who can put AI to work from day one and, increasingly, talent with the judgment, communication and governance skills to make sure it delivers. This combination is now the hardest aspect to hire for.”
"No single hiring model will close that gap. The organizations that pull ahead will execute a holistic strategy: they will buy the right foundational talent, borrow specialist skills with the flexibility to bring them in exactly when needed, and invest seriously in building their own people. And they can't afford to leave half the talent pool behind. Closing the gender gap in AI skills has to be a deliberate priority if we’re to secure sustainable growth."
about randstad
Randstad is the world’s leading talent company with the vision to be the world’s most equitable and specialized talent company. We are a partner of choice for talent and clients. We have a deep understanding of the labor market and through our four specializations – Operational, Professional, Digital and Enterprise – help our clients create the high-quality, diverse and agile workforces they need to succeed. We are committed to providing equitable opportunities to people from all backgrounds and help them remain relevant in the rapidly changing world of work. Through the value we create, we are committed to making the world of work better for all.
Headquartered in the Netherlands, Randstad operates in 39 markets and has approximately 38,000 employees. In 2025, we supported nearly 150,000 clients and over 1.7 million talent, generating a revenue of €23.1 billion. Randstad N.V. is listed on the Euronext Amsterdam. For more information, see www.randstad.com.
about tech talent in transition: building the AI-ready workforce
The 2026 tech talent research draws on both primary and secondary data. The primary research was conducted in the first half of August 2026 across 11 markets (Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK, and the US). The survey comprised 1,100 interviews, with 100 respondents per market, among senior business and technology decision-makers responsible for workforce planning and digital talent strategy. Evalueserve was used for sampling purposes.
The secondary research, compiled by Randstad Market Intelligence in August 2026, incorporates data from over 20 million job postings and approximately 100 million candidate profiles.