AI Workforce Consortium Report Highlights Critical Skills for Next-Gen Roles

/ AI, Application Development, DevOps
AI Workforce Consortium Report Highlights Critical Skills for Next-Gen Roles

The News

The AI Workforce Consortium, led by Cisco with members including Accenture, Google, IBM, Microsoft, SAP, Intel, and others, has released its second study: ICT in Motion: The Next Wave of AI Integration. Drawing on global job data from Cornerstone and Indeed (July 2024–June 2025), the report shows AI-related roles now dominate technology job market growth, with 7 of the top 10 fastest-growing ICT jobs requiring AI skills. Read the full report here.

Analysis

The findings confirm that AI has shifted from niche expertise to baseline requirement. 78% of ICT roles now include AI skills, showing that generative AI, large language models (LLMs), and AI-driven automation are no longer isolated functions; they are embedded across the tech stack. This aligns with theCUBE Research’s findings that 70.4% of enterprises list AI/ML tools as their top spending priority in the next 12 months, highlighting an accelerating convergence between workforce readiness and enterprise adoption.

Governance and Ethics Move from Side Note to Core Requirement

AI growth is not limited to technical capabilities. The report shows demand for AI Governance skills up +150% and AI Ethics up +125%, reflecting the need for professionals who can bridge technology, policy, and law. Our DevSecOps research shows 35.9% of organizations cite regulatory compliance as their top factor influencing security spend. For developers, this means AI systems must be built with governance by design, making ethics and compliance an engineering problem, not just a boardroom discussion.

The New Developer Challenge

The AI landscape is shifting from simple chatbots to autonomous agents, driving massive growth in skills like AI security (+298%) and foundation model adaptation (+267%). Developers who once focused on deploying LLM APIs now face the challenge of securing agents, adapting models, and ensuring safe interaction across distributed systems. Our Day 0 research shows 27.5% of developers already cite skill gaps as their top barrier, a challenge now intensified by rapidly evolving AI specialization.

Human Skills Regain Importance

Even as technical skills gaps widen, employers are increasingly emphasizing communication, collaboration, and leadership. This suggests that AI-centric roles will not only demand technical depth but also the ability to translate AI capabilities into business outcomes. Developers who can combine engineering expertise with clear communication will be well-positioned to lead in this environment.

Regional Growth Centers Set the Tone

With Silicon Valley AI jobs up 156%, followed by London and Toronto, global AI hubs are shaping standards and expectations. For developers outside these regions, the impact is twofold: increasing competition for remote roles and pressure to align with practices set by these leading ecosystems.

Looking Ahead

The market is normalizing around the idea that AI is no longer a specialization, but a foundation for all ICT roles. This means future-proofing skills by focusing not only on core AI/ML engineering, but also on security, governance, and human collaboration.

The challenge is balancing demand and supply by bridging critical skill deficits while also embedding responsible AI practices into every stage of the application lifecycle. The AI Workforce Consortium’s findings underscore that the next wave of AI adoption is as much about people and skills as it is about tools and platforms, a shift that will define the developer workforce for years to come.

Authors

  • Paul Nashawaty

    Paul Nashawaty, Practice Leader and Lead Principal Analyst, specializes in application modernization across build, release and operations. With a wealth of expertise in digital transformation initiatives spanning front-end and back-end systems, he also possesses comprehensive knowledge of the underlying infrastructure ecosystem crucial for supporting modernization endeavors. With over 25 years of experience, Paul has a proven track record in implementing effective go-to-market strategies, including the identification of new market channels, the growth and cultivation of partner ecosystems, and the successful execution of strategic plans resulting in positive business outcomes for his clients.

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  • With over 15 years of hands-on experience in operations roles across legal, financial, and technology sectors, Sam Weston brings deep expertise in the systems that power modern enterprises such as ERP, CRM, HCM, CX, and beyond. Her career has spanned the full spectrum of enterprise applications, from optimizing business processes and managing platforms to leading digital transformation initiatives.

    Sam has transitioned her expertise into the analyst arena, focusing on enterprise applications and the evolving role they play in business productivity and transformation. She provides independent insights that bridge technology capabilities with business outcomes, helping organizations and vendors alike navigate a changing enterprise software landscape.

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