As companies look to make the most of AI and cloud technologies, there is a significant human skills gap that needs to be addressed.
The need to bridge the gap between humans and machines is immense, according to a study by SoftwareOne, a leading global software and cloud solutions company, which highlights that 97% of businesses are prioritizing employee upskilling.
As AI continues to disrupt businesses and services around the world, companies are rushing to acquire the latest models to better serve their customers. However, a widening skills gap is threatening business operations and putting organizations at risk of falling behind in the global AI race.
Matching employee skills with innovation
Organizations are at a critical juncture as they consider how to stay competitive when it comes to AI.
The biggest challenge for businesses undertaking digital transformation today is ensuring that workforce skill development keeps up with the pace of rapid innovation. According to SoftwareOne, more than half (53%) of companies surveyed currently lack the AI skills necessary to take advantage of rapid innovation.
Similarly, 50% of organizations report that they currently struggle to find employees with AI skills.
SoftwareOne research highlights the urgent reality that with the cloud skills gap widening and concerns over AI growing, it is imperative to prioritize closer collaboration between human workers and advanced technologies. This relationship will redefine the dynamics within business, with 97% of organizations already planning to prioritize upskilling their workforce.
There's currently a massive cloud skills shortage, and according to the report, this gap has led to increased personal workload for 62% of respondents, which is resulting in negative impacts for businesses, including staff burnout and higher turnover within certain departments.
Notably, the report reveals that more than a quarter (27%) of global IT managers are considering leaving their jobs as a direct result of the widening skills gap. Related to this, 84% of companies identify IT talent retention as a major challenge, in part due to conflict within teams.
