AI skills in demand: Building a future-ready workforce in 2026

The disconnect between AI adoption and AI education has reached critical proportions. Lloyds Bank report that 52% of the UK labour force do not have all the digital skills needed for the workplace. As businesses rush to implement AI tools and platforms, they're building on a foundation that's already unstable. 

Randstad's global survey of over 7,000 employees reveals a stark reality: whilst job postings requiring AI skills have increased by 2,000% since March 2023, only 13% of employees worldwide have received AI training. In the UK specifically, this gap is even more pronounced, with many organisations struggling to balance the urgent need for AI capabilities against the practical constraints of employee schedules and resources. 

Ensuring organisational and learning agility in the AI era means more than simply providing the latest technologies. Instead, it requires identifying and bridging the critical AI skills gaps that threaten your competitive position. In a landscape where businesses are investing heavily in artificial intelligence technology, the real differentiator will be organisations that successfully equip their people with the skills needed for AI to use these tools effectively whilst maintaining quality. 

The conversation around AI and employment has evolved significantly. Early predictions focused heavily on job losses, but the reality emerging in 2026 is far more nuanced - and in many ways, more challenging to navigate. 

Research by Goldman Sachs suggests that AI will fundamentally reshape the nature of work rather than simply eliminate roles. The distinction is critical: whilst overall employment may remain stable or even grow, the composition of jobs and the tasks within them are changing dramatically. The challenge for organisations isn't preparing for a workforce decimated by automation, but rather managing the transformation of nearly every job function to incorporate AI capabilities. 

As AI becomes embedded in daily workflows across all functions, a baseline level of AI literacy is no longer optional - it's essential for every employee. Understanding which employee skillsets are most valuable for AI integration means establishing universal AI fundamentals whilst recognising the different strengths individuals bring and how these complement one another. 

Focus your workforce’s AI skills development on: 

• AI literacy: Understanding what AI can and cannot do, and when human judgment remains essential 
• Effective prompting: Clear communication with AI tools directly impacts output quality 
• Critical evaluation: 93% of workers do not consider AI outputs completely trustworthy for work-related tasks showing that strong evaluation skills are essential when working with AI 
• Continuous learning: The skills sought by employers are changing 66% faster in occupations most exposed to AI, up from 25% last year 

A strategic approach to AI skills involves: 

• Identifying specific skill sets essential to each function and role 
• Assessing organisational skills gaps 
• Prioritising skills for development, distinguish which are critical must haves and which can wait  
• Creating focused organisational and individual development plans  

This enables effective planning rather than attempting to create identical skill profiles across the workforce. 

AI's impact varies significantly across sectors, and whilst priority skills differ by industry context, foundation capabilities remain consistent: understanding AI capabilities and limitations, basic prompt engineering, and recognising AI bias. Equally important are the human skills that enable effective AI collaboration - critical thinking to evaluate outputs, adaptability to evolving tools, and ethical reasoning to ensure responsible use. 

Before implementing AI skills training initiatives, L&D leaders must secure commitment at multiple levels of the organisation. Without visible support from function leaders, team managers, and individual employees, even the best-designed programmes struggle to gain traction. The key to securing buy-in lies in demonstrating tangible benefits that resonate with each audience. 

For function leaders and senior management 

• Productivity growth has nearly quadrupled in industries most exposed to AI, rising from 7% to 27% between 2018-2024 
• AI-capable workforces enable faster deployment of AI initiatives and greater ROI on technology investments 
• Addressing skill gaps accelerates organisational AI adoption and competitive positioning 

For team managers 

• Workers using generative AI saved 5.4% of their work hours, which for a 40-hour work week means 2.2 hours saved per week 
• AI-capable teams require less supervision on routine tasks, freeing managers for strategic work 
• Teams with AI skills can tackle more complex projects and adapt more quickly to changing priorities 

For individual employees 

• Professionals with AI skills command a 56% wage premium 
• Learning opportunities are a top retention driver—employees want to see investment in their development 
• AI skills protect career longevity as job requirements evolve rapidly 

Working closely with managers is essential. Team leaders serve as the critical bridge between organisational AI strategy and individual adoption. When managers actively champion AI upskilling - discussing it in one-to-ones, recognising AI skill development, and modelling AI use themselves - employee participation increases significantly. Equip managers with talking points, success stories, and resources to position AI training as career investment rather than corporate mandate. 

Once you've secured buy-in, guide employees and their managers on how to apply AI capabilities strategically. L&D teams can support career development through AI upskilling by providing the following framework. 

1. Help employees demonstrate measurable value 

Encourage employees to document and share how AI skills improve their performance. Support managers in recognising and quantifying these improvements during performance reviews. 

What to track: 

• Time savings on routine tasks 
• Efficiency gains in project delivery 
• Quality improvements in outputs 
• Innovation enabled by freed-up capacity 

Provide templates or tools that make it easy for employees to capture and communicate these metrics. 

2. Identify and develop AI champions within teams 

Rather than expecting AI expertise to develop organically, strategically identify employees who show aptitude and enthusiasm for AI tools. Support them in becoming go-to resources for their colleagues. 

How L&D can facilitate this: 

• Create formal AI champion or ambassador programmes 
• Provide advanced training for identified champions 
• Give champions time and recognition for peer support activities 
• Build communities of practice where champions share learnings 

This peer-led approach often drives adoption more effectively than top-down mandates. 

3. Connect AI skills to business problem-solving 

Help employees and managers identify opportunities where AI capabilities can address real organisational challenges. Frame AI upskilling as enabling innovation, not just efficiency. 

L&D's role: 

• Facilitate workshops exploring AI applications in different functions 
• Showcase internal case studies of AI-driven solutions 
• Create channels for employees to propose AI initiatives 
• Recognize and reward innovative AI applications 

When employees see clear connections between AI skills and valued business outcomes, engagement with training increases. 

4. Provide curated resources for staying current 

AI capabilities evolve rapidly, and employees need ongoing support to stay informed without becoming overwhelmed by the pace of change. 

What L&D can offer: 

• Regular "what's new in AI" sessions or communications 
• Structured learning pathways: Virtual classrooms on topics like AI Fundamentals and Smart AI Prompting build capabilities systematically 
• Just-in-time resources: Nano videos deliver focused insights in minutes, delivering bursts on knowledge on topics such as How AI actually works and AI – How are humans and machines different? 
• In-depth exploration: eBooks covering Right-Skilling for the AI-Powered Economy and AI Compliance for Executives & Regulatory Pros support employees developing specialised expertise 
• Flexible formats: Audio learning on AI in the Workplace enables AI skill development during commutes 

AI and big data top the list of fastest-growing skills, making continuous learning support essential for maintaining relevance. 

5. Emphasise complementary human skills development 

Help employees understand that AI proficiency combined with strong human capabilities creates the most career value. Design development pathways that build both simultaneously. 

Integration strategies: 

• Pair AI tool training with critical thinking development 
• Combine data analysis upskilling with strategic reasoning 
• Link AI literacy programmes to communication skills training 
• Emphasize ethical reasoning alongside technical AI capabilities 

The most valuable employees won't be AI specialists—they'll be professionals who combine AI proficiency with strong communication, strategic thinking, creativity, and emotional intelligence. 

There is a whole host of AI training available now, it really is a booming industry. Give it a quick search and you'll see a whole range of AI training courses. However, many are aimed at individuals wanting careers in specialised artificial intelligence, or highly technical roles. 

Despite AI training options expanding, a significant gap remains for accessible, practical training designed for the broader workforce. Most still target technical specialists or require degree-level prerequisites. From frontline workers to office staff, many employees lack access to training that helps them integrate AI tools into their daily tasks without needing advanced technical knowledge. 

The challenge for L&D leaders isn't just securing budget for training - it's finding training that meets the need. Organisations require accessible resources that help employees understand AI's capabilities and limitations, use tools effectively in their specific roles, and navigate ethical considerations confidently. 

Whilst structured eLearning courses provide comprehensive foundations, on-demand resources offer the flexibility employees need to learn in the flow of work, accessing guidance precisely when they need it, without disrupting their schedules. Our flexible learning platform Access Bookboon provides AI training in multiple formats to suit different learning preferences and situations.