Adopting a skills-first mentality for AI integration

In the wake of rapid AI adoption, organizations are now facing a broadening skills gap as the technology has been integrated faster than employees can develop new skills. The CompTIA Workforce and Learning Trends 2026 study found that, overall, companies cite some of the biggest challenges of AI adoption as insufficient skills using AI (24%), insufficient core domain skills (24%), and insufficient integration skills (21%).

Skills gaps remain one of the biggest issues for business transformation, with 63% of employers citing it as a major barrier, according to the 2025 Future of Jobs Survey from the World Economic Forum. In response, 85% of employers said they plan to upskill their workforce, 70% said they plan to hire new staff, and 50% said they plan to transition staff from declining to growing roles.

Establishing a strategy for training and upskilling can help companies develop quality skills-based training programs that help remedy skills gaps. However, organizations will also need to be mindful of providing employees with a career roadmap that includes on-the-job training, and thoughtfully considers the impacts of AI on their overall career growth.

Organizational factors driving training needs

While AI will impact most job roles, some are driving the demand for AI training more than others. Roles in cybersecurity (38%), operations (38%), data management (38%), tech support (37%), IT Infrastructure (37%), customer support (34%), software development (31%), and project management (26%) were the top ranked roles pushing training needs. These tech roles were followed closely behind by non-tech ones in sales (25%), marketing (25%), finance (23%), and legal (13%), according to data from CompTIA.

Training priorities also vary by company size. SMEs are prioritizing AI training first, followed by AI security and then AI support. At large companies, that shifts to a focus on AI security first, then AI training followed by AI management. And at very large organizations, the priorities begin with AI security, followed by AI integration, and then AI training.

Cybersecurity needs have also paced alongside AI demands, as AI implementation has accelerated both the capabilities of security operations and the scale of threat vectors, according to CompTIA. Skills in cybersecurity as well as overall cybersecurity awareness in the organization will become increasingly important as businesses navigate AI adoption.

Based off data from the WEF, skills in highest demand include analytical thinking (68%); resilience, flexibility, and agility (67%); leadership and social influence (61%); creative thinking (57%); and motivation and self-awareness (52%).

These skills reflect the shift to AI implementation, increasing the demand for soft skills over hard skills. Organizations need professionals who can oversee AI outputs and think logistically and analytically about whether AI outputs are correct or at their full potential. These skills will also need to be considered in training programs; L&D will need to expand beyond hard-skills training to include modules on soft skills and other AI-related skills.

Challenging outdated perceptions of training

In 48% of cases, training is one of the biggest areas where businesses say they plan on investing, as companies shift their focus to integration within the tech stack and workflow. Training has shifted from focusing on foundational concepts to exploring deeper needs around AI fluency, as well as other emerging disciplines, according to CompTIA.

As a result, 57% of respondents said their company is investing in a new training program across all skill types, while 50% said they’re launching entirely new training programs focused specifically on AI skills. Additionally, 48% plan to update existing training programs with new AI modules, while only 11% said they’re not taking any related action at this time.

Organizations need to lead the charge on skills development for AI, the survey also found, in that only 43% of respondents felt their workforce is enthusiastic about AI adoption, citing low confidence of building skills (39%), and an unclear starting point for skills (35%) as two driving factors.

One hurdle many businesses face surrounds the perceptions of on-the-job training, which might require a shift in company culture. A report from TalentLMS on Learning and Development in 2025 found that almost half of employees and HR managers agree that, at their companies, time spent training is viewed as time away from real work. This presents learning as an interruption rather than an advantage.

But the survey also found that 64% of companies plan to upskill and reskill existing employees, so it’s important for organizations to evaluate internal attitudes toward training, especially considering that 86% of employees said they do, in fact, learn new skills hands-on through on-the-job training. For many employees, integrating training into their daily workflow can also help improve outcomes and make it more likely that employees will embrace upskilling programs.

Full commitment to the cause

Companies need to develop a realistic picture of how employees view training opportunities available in the organization. The survey from TalentLMS found that 83% of HR managers say they believe their company actively supports employees in learning how to use AI, but only 64% of employees said the same. Implementing effective training programs for AI will require strong communication and collaboration between HR, IT executives, and L&D teams to ensure employee training needs are being met.

AI adoption has taken hold at a rapid pace, and training programs need to reflect that in tandem. For many employees, they report feeling behind on AI skills, unsure of where to start and how to gain the necessary skills for the future of their job roles. Establishing a strong AI strategy that considers training can help organizations make the most of their AI investments, and ensure skills gaps are met as the technology evolves.