Skills gap

The demand for AI skills is surging, yet many organizations lack explicit AI requirements in job descriptions. Europe is pioneering AI education, integrating it into teacher training, entrepreneurship programs, and personalized learning initiatives. These programs emphasize critical thinking, ethical AI application, and human oversight. Businesses should develop AI-assisted learning pathways, partner with educational institutions, and establish ethical AI guidelines to cultivate a future-ready workforce. Proactive engagement with these trends is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge.

A CQF Institute report reveals a critical AI skills gap in quantitative finance. Less than 10% of specialists believe recent graduates possess adequate AI/ML expertise, despite widespread AI adoption (83%) and daily usage by over half of quants. Key AI applications include coding, sentiment analysis, and research, leading to productivity gains for 44%. Challenges include model explainability (41%) and regulatory compliance (16%). Limited formal AI training programs (14%) exacerbate the gap, highlighting the need for comprehensive education and strategic AI integration.

Kyndryl’s 2025 Readiness Report, based on a survey of 3,700 leaders, reveals that while AI investments are yielding increased ROI, scaling AI remains a challenge. Many organizations struggle with outdated IT infrastructure, skills gaps, and a complex regulatory landscape. Despite confidence in tools and processes, foundational tech often hinders innovation. Geopolitical pressures also force cloud strategy reevaluation. Companies are increasing AI spending, prioritizing cybersecurity, and recognizing the need to address talent and culture to fully realize AI’s potential.

A Red Hat report highlights a gap in the UK: 89% of organizations struggle to realize AI value despite projected spending increases. AI and security are top IT priorities, alongside cloud adoption, yet high costs, data privacy, and legacy system integration pose obstacles. “Shadow AI” is prevalent, underscoring governance issues. Open source is critical for AI strategies, particularly agentic AI adoption. Skills shortages persist, especially in agentic AI. While 83% see the UK as a potential AI leader, talent, funding, and private sector engagement are limiting factors.