Every year, The State of Tech Talent report tracks how technology is reshaping the workforce. And every year, the story gets more urgent.
In 2025, our research showed that AI adoption was outpacing talent availability. Organizations were racing to integrate AI into workflows, but struggling to hire fast enough to keep up. Leaders told us the talent pipeline simply wasn’t moving at the speed of transformation.
Now, our newly released State of Tech Talent 2026 reveals something bigger: a fundamental shift in AI strategy.
Companies are no longer betting on hiring their way out of the AI skills gap. They’re betting on their people.
Based on a survey of 500 HR leaders across the US, UK, and Singapore, this year’s report explores how organizations are rethinking workforce strategy, where the biggest risks are emerging, and what it will take to truly survive—and thrive—in the AI era.
You might also be interested in our previous reports:
Key finding #1: Upskilling is now the dominant strategy
For the first time, the data shows a clear consensus: Organizations believe internal capability matters more than external hiring.
- 83% of HR leaders say business success now depends more on upskilling employees than hiring new talent
- The share of organizations most likely to train existing employees rose from 28% (2024) to 35% (2025)
- The UK saw the sharpest shift, jumping from 30% to 43% year over year
These stats mark a meaningful pivot in mindset. Companies are starting to recognize that AI readiness isn’t just a recruitment problem—it’s an organizational capability problem.
Yet execution remains difficult. The top two barriers to upskilling, based on the survey, are:
- 47% cite lack of time
- 46% cite budget constraints
Most often, the intent is there. But the infrastructure isn’t.
Key finding #2: Entry-level jobs are disappearing faster than expected
AI isn’t just changing workflows. It’s changing career pathways.
- 61% of organizations are already seeing entry-level roles being automated
- Another 32% believe it’s coming soon
- Larger companies (2,500+ employees) are feeling this most acutely:
- 71% vs. 55% at smaller organizations
This disruption is also reshaping how HR professionals see their own futures:
- 50% fear the recruiter role could be obsolete within 5 years
- Anxiety is highest at smaller-revenue companies (57%) and organizations that outsource recruiting (64%)
The implication is clear: The traditional “hire junior, train over time” model is breaking. Organizations will need new pathways for developing talent, building skills, and sustaining progression in a world where entry-level work is increasingly automated.
Key finding #3: Most companies still struggle to measure whether AI training actually works
Investment in AI training is rising, but confidence in outcomes is not.
- 68% measure impact using performance-based indicators
- 58% rely on manager assessments
- Yet 43% say they still struggle to measure real business value
AI adoption challenges also persist:
- 36% report low employee buy-in
- 32% face leadership resistance
- Leadership resistance is more common at smaller companies (37% vs. 24%)
Offering training isn’t the same as changing behavior. And changing behavior is what ultimately drives real transformation.
The real AI challenge: Moving from activity to impact
Taken together, this year’s findings point to a hard truth.
Organizations know they must upskill in AI. They see roles changing. They’re investing more than ever.
But many still lack a clear system for translating the AI training and learning into sustained performance.
Surviving in the AI era will require more than isolated courses, one-off initiatives, or scattered tool adoption. It will require intentional, ongoing capability building—across functions, across levels, and across the organization.
At General Assembly, this belief is core to our evolution. As we celebrate 15 years of helping individuals and organizations build in-demand skills, we’re continuing to expand how we support enterprises navigating AI transformation—including the recent launch of 15 new AI courses across data, product, engineering, design, and business, along with the next evolution of our enterprise AI Academy, now with wraparound services, plus our AI team training for growing businesses.
Because the future of work won’t be shaped by who adopts AI fastest. It’ll be shaped by who builds the most adaptable, capable workforce.
Two steps you can take today
If you’re responsible for talent, transformation, or workforce strategy, this year’s report offers practical insight into what’s changing—and what to do next.
- Download the full State of Tech Talent 2026 report to explore all findings and benchmarks
- Get in touch to learn how we partner with organizations of all sizes and industries to build AI-ready capability through tailored training solutions
The AI era isn’t coming. It’s here. The organizations that survive and thrive will be the ones that treat learning not as a perk, but as core infrastructure.