The artificial intelligence (AI) sector is growing very fast, and by 2027, there will be more than 2.3 million job openings, according to a report released on Monday. However, there are not enough skilled workers to fill these jobs.

The report by Bain & Company says that training and improving the skills of current workers is very important to meet this demand. In India, the number of AI professionals is expected to reach 1.2 million by 2027. This means that over 1 million more workers need to be trained in AI skills to fill the remaining job openings.

Saikat Banerjee, a partner at Bain & Company, explained, “India has a unique opportunity to position itself as a global AI talent hub. However, by 2027, the job openings in AI are expected to be 1.5–2x the talent availability. The challenge—and opportunity—lies in reskilling and upskilling a significant portion of the existing talent base on emerging technology tools and skillsets.”

Global talent shortage in AI

The shortage of skilled AI workers is not just a problem in India—it is a global issue. More and more companies need AI professionals, but there aren’t enough trained people to fill these jobs.

Since 2019, AI job postings around the world have increased by 21% every year, and salaries for AI jobs have gone up by 11% each year. However, even with these high salaries, there are still not enough skilled workers.

One of the biggest challenges for companies is finding employees with the right AI skills. Almost half (44%) of business leaders said that not having enough AI experts in their companies is a major problem in using AI technology. Experts say this shortage will continue at least until 2027, and different countries will face different levels of difficulty in hiring AI professionals.

In the United States, half of the AI jobs could remain empty by 2027. The demand for AI workers may reach over 1.3 million, but there will be fewer than 645,000 skilled professionals available. This means that around 700,000 workers need to be trained in AI skills to fill the gap.

Germany is expected to have the biggest shortage of AI workers. By 2027, about 70% of AI jobs in the country may remain unfilled. Germany will need between 190,000 and 219,000 AI professionals, but only about 62,000 skilled workers will be available. This creates a big opportunity for training and reskilling workers in Germany.

The United Kingdom is also expected to struggle with an AI talent shortage. The country may need up to 255,000 AI professionals by 2027, but only 105,000 trained workers may be available. Similarly, Australia could face a shortage of more than 60,000 AI specialists, as only 84,000 will be available to fill up to 146,000 jobs.

The need for reskilling

Saikat Banerjee mentioned the importance of reskilling the workforce, saying, “AI talent shortage is a significant challenge; it is not invincible. Addressing it requires a fundamental shift in how businesses attract, develop, and retain AI talent. Companies need to move beyond traditional hiring approaches, prioritise continuous upskilling, and foster an innovation-driven ecosystem.”

To solve this issue, businesses and governments must work together to create training programs that help workers learn AI skills. This will not only help fill job vacancies but also ensure that companies can fully benefit from AI technology.

With AI becoming more important in industries such as healthcare, finance, and technology, it is crucial to have skilled professionals who can develop and implement AI solutions. If the talent shortage is not addressed, it could slow down AI adoption and impact economic growth in many countries.

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