CompTIA’s first AI Skills Tracker found that AI learning remains largely informal, creating opportunities for organizations to enhance workforce readiness and business adoption.
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. , July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The majority of workers regularly use artificial intelligence (AI) tools, but few consider themselves proficient with the technology, according to new research from CompTIA, a global provider of vendor-neutral IT training and certifications.
The first CompTIA AI Skills Tracker, which surveyed more than 1,000 business and technology leaders in June 2026 on AI technology adoption, highlighted a significant gap between AI adoption and workforce readiness. 80% of professionals report using AI tools multiple times a month, but only 29% say they have advanced knowledge of AI technology. More than half of respondents say business-related activities account for less than 20% of their total AI use.
The findings also revealed that most workers are learning AI on their own, rather than through employer-sponsored training. More than 6 in 10 rely on common social tools for AI education that are disconnected from company policies and training priorities and lack formal ways to document or validate skills.
“Organizations seeking greater business value from their AI investments will need to prioritize employee skill development alongside technology adoption,” said Seth Robinson, vice president of research at CompTIA. “As organizations move beyond experimentation to broader implementation, workforce readiness will be a critical success factor.”
Importantly, this research highlights the growing gap between workers who are actively developing their career capabilities and those who rely on more casual approaches. Among respondents who said they were actively building their job skills, 47% reported a high level of familiarity with AI, compared to 29% overall.
“Those who actively build their AI skills report feeling more connected, confident, and have positive workplace outcomes, highlighting the importance of structured learning and hands-on experience,” Robinson noted.
The study found that workers face two main challenges when building AI skills. That means you have limited training time and you don’t know which skills are most important.
“As AI reshapes workplace processes, organizations have the opportunity to provide clearer guidance on in-demand skills,” Robinson said. “Practical application understanding, hands-on experience, and security-focused learning are key components of effective AI training. These capabilities will become increasingly important for converting AI experiments into measurable business outcomes.”
