For the first time, artificial intelligence skills have topped the global list of hardest-to-fill positions, surpassing engineering and information technology roles that have historically led the ranking, according to a new survey by workforce solutions firm ManpowerGroup.
The company’s 2026 Talent Shortage Survey, which polled 39,063 employers across 41 countries, found 72 per cent reported difficulty filling roles — a slight drop from 74 per cent the year before, but still reflecting widespread hiring strain.
AI skills overtake traditional technical roles
The survey found AI model and application development (20 per cent) and AI literacy (19 per cent) now lead all categories of hard-to-find skills globally. Engineering came in at 19 per cent, followed by sales and marketing (18 per cent) and manufacturing and production (17 per cent). Traditional IT and data skills fell to seventh place at 17 per cent.
Human skills remain in high demand
Despite the surge in demand for AI capabilities, employers still prize interpersonal skills. Communication, collaboration and teamwork ranked as the most sought-after attributes at 39 per cent, followed by professionalism and work ethic (36 per cent) and adaptability and willingness to learn (34 per cent).
Shortage varies by country
Hiring difficulty differs significantly by market. Employers in Germany reported the highest shortage rate at 83 per cent, followed by France at 74 per cent and the United Kingdom at 73 per cent. The United States came in at 69 per cent, slightly below the global average. Canada was not highlighted in the release’s country comparisons. China reported the lowest strain among major markets at 48 per cent.
Shortage cuts across industries
No single sector is immune. The information industry reported the highest shortage rate at 75 per cent, while hospitality and the public sector, health and social services each came in at 74 per cent. Professional, scientific and technical services sat at 73 per cent, manufacturing at 72 per cent, and finance and insurance at 71 per cent.
Larger organizations face greater hiring pressure
Company size plays a role in hiring difficulty. Organizations with 1,000 to 4,999 employees reported a shortage rate of 75 per cent — 11 percentage points higher than companies with fewer than 10 employees.
How employers are responding
ManpowerGroup found 91 per cent of employers are using a mix of strategies to address the shortage. Upskilling and reskilling led the list at 27 per cent, followed by offering more schedule flexibility (20 per cent), increasing wages (19 per cent), adding location flexibility (18 per cent), and targeting new talent pools (18 per cent).
“The rise of AI skills to the top of the shortage list reflects how quickly the talent landscape is evolving,” said Jonas Prising, ManpowerGroup chair and CEO. “Companies are responding with upskilling and more flexible workforce models, recognizing they will need to hire for potential; while building AI literacy across their workforce so people can apply new technology with judgment and confidence. AI is not replacing jobs, it is reshaping work, and companies that connect productivity gains with opportunity and career growth will be best positioned to compete in a talent-scarce world.”
The survey was conducted in October 2025. ManpowerGroup operates workforce solutions brands including Manpower, Experis and Talent Solutions across more than 70 countries.
