Employers across industries increasingly prioritize artificial intelligence (AI) skills when hiring, with research showing that eight in 10 hiring managers view AI proficiency as a top priority. Data also reveals that many employers would prefer candidates with AI capabilities over those with more years of traditional work experience.
Despite this demand, many companies lag behind in providing AI training for their employees. Lisa Gevelber, head of Google’s “Grow with Google” initiative, noted that while hiring managers emphasize the importance of AI knowledge, corporate training programs frequently fall short of meeting this need.
How workers can develop AI skills
Traditional corporate and academic avenues struggle to keep pace with rapid AI advancements, according to Sam Caucci, founder of 1Huddle, a firm specializing in corporate training development. He explained that outdated curriculum frameworks prevent timely updates that reflect current AI capabilities.
To bridge this gap, workers are turning to publicly available AI platforms, such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude, to develop practical experience. These tools are often free, with optional paid subscriptions providing added features. OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, also offers training in “prompt engineering,” defined as the skill of effectively communicating with AI models to generate desired results.
Online platforms including Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube provide abundant free educational content, enabling individuals to acquire foundational AI knowledge independently. Christine Cruzvergara, vice president of higher education and student success at the hiring platform Handshake, suggested using AI itself to build AI skills—for example, requesting a structured learning plan from ChatGPT tailored to one’s role over a set timeframe.
Demonstrating AI expertise to employers
Experts emphasize the importance of clearly showcasing AI proficiency during the job search. Rather than simply stating experience with AI tools, candidates should detail specific ways AI has enhanced their productivity and include any formal training or certifications.
Programs like Google’s “Google AI Professional Certificate” offer affordable, flexible online courses designed to teach practical AI skills that employers seek. This particular certificate includes seven modules focusing on effective communication, presentation development, and data analysis through AI, priced at $49 per month.
“Companies buy talent — they don’t build it,” Caucci said, advising workers to accumulate relevant credentials to signal their focus on AI expertise.
Why it matters
The growing reliance on AI skills is reshaping workforce demands, making it crucial for employees to proactively acquire competencies that traditional education and employers may not yet offer. As AI tools become integral to many job functions, candidates who master and can articulate their AI skills hold an advantage in the competitive labor market.
Background
AI fluency has rapidly moved from a niche specialization to a baseline requirement across diverse sectors. This shift reflects accelerated adoption of AI technologies in business processes and decision-making. However, educational institutions and employers face challenges keeping curricula and training aligned with fast-evolving AI capabilities, creating a skills gap that individual learners often must address independently.
Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following source:
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