ManpowerGroup's newly released 2026 Talent Shortage Survey reveals a significant evolution in the global talent landscape as artificial intelligence moves from experimentation to enterprise-scale deployment. For the first time, AI model and application development (20%) and AI literacy (19%) rank as the hardest-to-fill capabilities worldwide, surpassing traditional engineering roles and relegating core IT and data skills to seventh place. Overall, 72% of employers continue to struggle to secure the skilled talent they require, with the shortage not diminishing but shifting toward specialized AI-related competencies.
Quick Intel
The survey underscores a critical reality: access to cutting-edge AI technology is no longer the primary barrier—securing and developing the human talent capable of leveraging it effectively has become the defining challenge. Organizations must now prioritize building AI-capable workforces to translate innovation into sustainable performance and competitive advantage.
AI Skills Surge to the Forefront The shift in hardest-to-fill skills reflects the accelerating integration of AI into business operations. Employers increasingly seek professionals who can develop, deploy, and understand AI systems, highlighting a gap between technological availability and workforce readiness. Traditional technical roles, while still important, have been overtaken by the demand for AI-specific expertise and foundational literacy needed to work alongside intelligent systems.
ManpowerGroup and Experis at Mobile World Congress 2026 ManpowerGroup and Experis will engage the global technology ecosystem at MWC Barcelona 2026 (March 2–5), where over 109,000 professionals and representatives from 95% of leading IT and telecom companies convene. Their presence focuses on bridging the talent gap through actionable insights and practical strategies.
Experis Meet-Up at Talent Arena Monday, March 2, 9:30–10:30 AM | Talent Arena PRO Area Experis kicks off the week with a networking session for senior technology professionals and leaders, introducing capabilities in AI, automation, and advanced tech talent acquisition.
Hyperautomation Workshop at Talent Arena Monday, March 2, 4:45 PM | Talent Arena PRO Stage As co-lead sponsor of the 2026 Talent Arena, Experis hosts an interactive workshop on hyperautomation's applications in talent acquisition and workforce transformation, emphasizing agentic AI to tackle talent scarcity through upskilling.
"Now and Next" with Mara Stefan Wednesday, March 4, 3:30 PM | Talent Arena Main Stage Mara Stefan, VP of Global Insights at ManpowerGroup, presents The Human Edge: Global Future of Work Trends report, outlining 16 trends across Hybrid Superteams, Rapid Relearning, Changing Norms, and the Succession Crisis, with strategies to close critical skill gaps.
Work Intelligence Lab Podcast Recordings ManpowerGroup's Work Intelligence Lab will record live episodes from the event floor, featuring perspectives from leaders at IBM, EY, and other key players on AI's influence on the future of work.
"The companies winning in the AI era are not simply the ones with the best models, they're the ones with the most capable people and the clearest understanding of the skills their business needs next," said Mara Stefan, VP of Global Insights at ManpowerGroup. "MWC is where the technology ecosystem comes together to see what's possible. Our role is to help organizations understand how to build the human edge that turns that potential into performance."
About ManpowerGroup
ManpowerGroup® (NYSE: MAN), the leading global workforce solutions company, helps organizations transform in a fast-changing world of work by sourcing, assessing, developing, and managing the talent that enables them to win. We develop innovative solutions for hundreds of thousands of organizations every year, providing them with skilled talent while finding meaningful, sustainable employment for millions of people across a wide range of industries and skills. Our expert family of brands – Manpower, Experis, and Talent Solutions – creates substantially more value for candidates and clients across more than 70 countries and territories and has done so for more than 75 years. We are recognized consistently as a best place to work for Women, Inclusion, Equality, and Disability, and in 2025 ManpowerGroup was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the 16th time; all confirming our position as the brand of choice for in-demand talent.
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