The artificial intelligence (AI) landscape in India is witnessing a paradox where demand for the technology is rapidly increasing but availability of skilled professionals remains a major hurdle. India is currently facing an acute shortage of experts in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning (ML), according to a comprehensive report released by Randstad Digital, a leading talent consultancy. The report highlights that more than 10% of key positions, such as AI solution leaders and machine learning engineers, remain unfilled across industries. This talent gap poses a challenge for companies that want to integrate AI solutions into their core business operations but are unable to find the right expertise to lead these efforts.
Significant vacancy rate in India
Data provided by Ranstad Digital highlights a worrying picture of India’s talent landscape, with 2% of machine learning engineer positions currently vacant. In the recruitment industry, any vacancy rate above the 10% threshold is classified as a critical talent shortage. This shows that despite India’s reputation as a global IT hub, certain advanced skills required for advanced AI and ML roles are not being filled by the current workforce. This shortage is not just a matter of numbers, but reflects the gap between traditional software development skills and the expertise needed for modern AI applications.
Global background of AI talent shortage
The shortage of AI specialists is not limited to India. This is a global phenomenon that affects several major economies. The vacancy rate for machine learning engineers is 2%. In the UK, 18% of AI solutions leader positions remain unfilled. But the situation is most critical in Japan, where the talent shortage has reached alarming levels. The vacancy rate for AI engineers is 8% and the vacancy rate for Generative AI engineers is 25%. These numbers highlight a global struggle as companies around the world compete for limited AI talent.
India as a global AI employment hub
Despite the talent shortage, India is solidifying its position as a leading destination for AI-related technology jobs. The report reveals that nearly half of the world’s AI jobs are concentrated in two countries: the United States and India. 5% of all global AI jobs. Commenting on the trend, Milind Shah, Managing Director, Randstad Digital India, said that while there is no shortage of general talent in India, the number of professionals with advanced AI skills remains significantly below market demand. This discrepancy is the main reason why it is becoming increasingly difficult for companies to complete the recruitment process.
Extended hiring schedules and surge in demand
The shortage of experts has a direct impact on the efficiency of the hiring process, with reports showing that it took an average of 53 days to hire an AI manager in the first quarter of 2026. This is a sharp increase from four years ago, when the same recruitment process could be completed in just 25 days. This doubling of hiring times means companies are spending more time and resources identifying and retaining the right candidates. Additionally, the demand for developers with AI skills is experiencing an unprecedented surge. Since 2021, the demand for AI-enabled developers in India has surged by over 660% by early 2026. In contrast, growth in demand for traditional software developers remains relatively limited. Experts believe that the demand for AI and ML professionals will further increase in the coming years, creating a great opportunity for young professionals to upskill and build a successful career in these fields.
