A limited understanding of employees’ generative AI training needs may prevent companies from creating “robust training plans” to properly upskill their workforces, according to an Amazon Web Services report released May 6.
IT decision makers who were surveyed also said they lacked knowledge of how to implement training programs, and 41% said limited training budgets hinder efforts.
Notably, 56% of organizations surveyed by AWS said they have already developed generative AI training plans, and 19% said they will do so this year.
But organizations also plan to turn to aggressive hiring to fill the skills gap, AWS said — a practice that may hinder employers in the long run if proper focus is not put on training, other reports have said. About a quarter of IT managers surveyed said at least half of the new positions at their companies “will demand generative AI skills.”
AI-skilled candidates tend to command higher salaries, General Assembly said in its State of Tech Talent 2025 report, which can drive up costs, especially when employers scramble to hire to fill gaps.
The need for AI talent also has pushed employers toward skill-based hiring, as opposed to more traditional credential and degree-focused hiring, a Workday report from March said. Only around a third of leaders surveyed said they were confident their organizations had the skills needed for long-term success.
But even as AI adoption rises at work, training around it continues to lag, a Jobs for the Future report said; only 31% of workers surveyed said their employer provides AI training.
