Dive Brief:
- Verified artificial intelligence certifications are driving career growth, a Randstad report from May 19 found. Workers who hold such credentials earn promotions more than three times faster than their peers, while entry-level talent with certifications receive a 25% salary boost, per the research.
- Despite big rewards, senior AI leadership roles have vacancy rates above 25% in certain markets. Companies are struggling to fill AI solutions lead positions and hiring bottlenecks are intensifying, Randstad said.
- “Businesses cannot unlock AI-driven growth by buying technology alone; the real bottleneck is the severe shortage of professionals capable of integrating, governing, and scaling these systems,” Sander van ‘t Noordende, CEO of Randstad, said in a statement.
Dive Insight:
The job market is experiencing a “fundamental shift,” van ‘t Noordende said. While layoffs dominate the news and most workers languish, another market exists for AI skills, where workers are in high demand and compensation soars.
While a recent Gartner report predicted AI would eventually create more jobs than it destroys, the process will “break down millions of careers,” a director analyst in Gartner’s HR practice said. As old roles vanish and new ones emerge, HR professionals will need to prioritize skill development and training, Gartner said.
At the same time, Randstad found that demand for uniquely human capabilities is strong as well. Emotional intelligence and creativity requirements are up 173% and 168%, respectively, Randstad found. Problem solving, critical thinking and ethical judgment skills are also in higher demand.
Taken together, Randstad’s analysis paints a picture of a “new phase where career advancement is increasingly driven by AI fluency, adaptability, and uniquely human capabilities … rather than tenure alone.”
An Indeed economist and economic researcher also noted the shifting job market in a report published earlier this month, which described a “mismatch” problem between the jobs workers have and want, and the jobs the economy needs. They recommended employers focus on retraining and reforming credentialing systems, among other solutions.