AI Workforce Consortium Finds 78% of ICT Roles Now Include AI Technical Skills, While Human Skills Gain Priority for Responsible Tech Adoption

Rhea-AI Summary

The AI Workforce Consortium, led by Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO), released its second study revealing that 78% of ICT roles now require AI skills, with 7 of the 10 fastest-growing ICT positions being AI-related. The consortium, which includes tech giants like Accenture, Google, IBM, and Microsoft, has committed to upskilling 95 million individuals worldwide over the next decade.

Key findings show critical skills gaps in areas like generative AI, LLMs, and prompt engineering, while human skills gain importance. Technical skill demand has surged significantly: AI security (+298%), foundation model adaptation (+267%), and responsible AI (+256%). Silicon Valley leads AI job growth with a 156% increase, followed by London and Toronto.

The consortium is launching new resources including an AI Workforce Playbook, updated learning recommendations with 200+ curated courses, and an AI Skills Glossary to support workforce development in the AI era.

Positive

• Consortium commitment to upskill 95 million individuals globally over next decade
• Strong growth in AI job market with 78% of ICT roles now including AI skills
• Launch of comprehensive resources including AI Workforce Playbook and Skills Glossary
• Significant growth in tech hubs with Silicon Valley showing 156% increase in AI jobs

Negative

• Critical skills deficit in key areas like generative AI, LLMs, and prompt engineering
• Rapid technological changes requiring significant workforce adaptation and retraining
• Potential challenges in meeting increased demand for AI security and governance expertise

 A Consortium of global industry leaders commits to upskilling and reskilling 95 million individuals worldwide over the next decade.

News Summary:

• The 2025 report examines 50 Information and Communication Technology (ICT) roles across G7 countries finding 7 of the 10 fastest-growing ICT roles are AI-related.
• Critical skills gaps in generative AI, LLMs, prompt engineering, AI ethics, and security, while prioritizing human skills like communication and leadership for responsible technology use.
• The Consortium also unveils learning recommendations, a Workforce Playbook and an AI Skills Glossary to empower workers and organizations to excel in an AI-driven world.

SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the AI Workforce Consortium released its second study, "ICT in Motion: The Next Wave of AI Integration," which finds that AI roles now dominate tech market growth. Led by Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO), the Consortium is a private sector collaboration that includes industry leaders Accenture, Cornerstone, Eightfold AI, Google, IBM, Indeed, Intel, Microsoft and SAP.

Based on extensive job posting data from Cornerstone and Indeed between July 2024 to June 2025 across G7 countries, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, this latest edition arrives at a pivotal moment as AI continues to reshape economies, societies and global governance. Building on last year's inaugural report, the 2025 analysis examines 50 ICT and specialized support roles, offering new insights into emerging AI-specific jobs, regional job creation and the skills workers need to remain competitive.

Key Findings from the 2025 Report

• AI Skills are Now Pervasive for Tech Jobs: 78% of the job roles analyzed include AI skills, highlighting a shift in role requirements across the G7.
• AI Roles Dominate Technology Job Market Growth: 7 of the 10 fastest-growing ICT roles are AI-related, including AI/ML Engineer, AI Risk & Governance Specialist and NLP Engineer.
• AI Ethics and Governance Skills Remain Critical: Demand for skills in AI Governance is +150% and AI Ethics +125%, reflecting the need for expertise at the intersection of technology, law and ethics.
• Critical Technical Skills Deficit and Rising Importance of Human Skills: The skills deficit has reached critical levels in areas such as generative AI, large language models (LLMs), prompt engineering, AI ethics and AI security, while human skills like communication, collaboration and leadership are increasingly prioritized for responsible technology adoption.
• Surge in Specialized AI Skills: The AI landscape is quickly shifting from chatbots to agents, driving demand for specialized skills, including AI security +298%, foundation model adaptation +267%, responsible AI +256% and multi-agent systems +245%.
• Accelerated AI Job Growth Driven by Tech Hubs: Silicon Valley leads with a 156% increase in AI jobs, followed by London and Toronto, underscoring their status as global AI powerhouses, while Manchester, Lyon and Vancouver are emerging hubs with over 70% AI job growth.

"As AI reshapes our world and work, people remain at the center," said Francine Katsoudas, Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer, Cisco. "This year's report makes clear that AI skills open exciting new doors, but it's the combination of technical expertise and human strengths like collaboration and leadership that will truly shape a brighter future. We are committed to building a workforce that is ready for this new era of growth, and to give people everywhere the opportunity to learn, contribute and benefit."

Resources to Empower Employees and Organizations
Collectively, Consortium members have committed to upskilling and reskilling 95 million individuals worldwide over the next decade. In support of this goal, the Consortium is introducing new resources to empower workers and organizations—available through an interactive AI chatbot, including:

• AI Workforce Playbook: A guide to align workforce development with business and AI goals, featuring real-world use cases and data-driven insights to address skill gaps for secure, responsible AI adoption.
• Updated Learning Recommendations: A database of 200+ curated courses with job-specific guidance on emerging technical and AI skills to help individuals and organizations adapt to technological change.
•  AI Skills Glossary: A comprehensive resource aimed at standardizing AI skills across education, industry and policy, reflecting the latest platforms and tools shaping AI in 2025.

Support from AI Workforce Consortium Members

Accenture
"AI is rapidly reshaping how both government and industry deliver value to the public," said Ryan Oakes, Global Health & Public Service Industry Practices Chair, Accenture. "To keep pace, we need a workforce fluent in advanced technologies and grounded in the human skills that build public trust. This report calls on government agencies working hand-in-hand with their private-sector partners to invest in upskilling that expands digital and AI data literacy, embeds ethical and secure AI practices, and empowers the public workforce development ecosystem to create better outcomes for the communities they serve. By doing so, we can unlock the full potential of our people and drive economic growth that benefits everyone."

Cornerstone
"How do you prepare your people for the rapid changes that AI promises to bring?" said Himanshu Palsule, Chief Executive Officer, Cornerstone. "We know from this year's report, along with past analysis, that skills demands and job requirements around AI are rising exponentially and will only continue to grow. But AI demand in technical roles also brings an increasing need for human skills alongside it, and an urgency for organizations to develop the workforce for the future. Preparing organizations and their people for that culture of agility and adaptability will be essential to thrive and succeed."

Eightfold AI
"The 2025 ICT report emphasizes just how fast organizations are hiring and upskilling talent to support AI initiatives," said Ashutosh Garg, Co-founder and CEO, Eightfold AI. "However, it's critical that organizations have C-level support and a human-centric design in AI initiatives to ensure the transformational results that they seek. Otherwise, these initiatives will often fail with poor adoption rates and expose organizations to significant ethical and governance risks that are hard to recover from. The AI Workforce Consortium's Playbook is an outstanding guide to help their organizations implement sound initiatives."

Google
"The data is clear: AI skills are essential for today's jobs," said Lisa Gevelber, Founder, Grow with Google. "Google is committed to helping people access the most advanced technology and the training needed to ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive in the AI era."

IBM
"AI skills have quickly shifted from optional to essential across all industries, becoming the new currency of innovation," said Justina Nixon-Saintil, VP and Chief Impact Officer, IBM. "The organizations that invest now will define the future. IBM is committed to equipping today's workforce with the AI skills needed to thrive in an AI-driven economy. Through IBM SkillsBuild, we empower students and educators with the tools, training, and credentials to succeed in this fast-evolving landscape. Our global goal is to skill 30 million people by 2030, shaping the future of AI-powered work for all."

Indeed
"AI is changing the very DNA of jobs and with it redefining the job market as we know it," said Svenja Gudell, Chief Economist, Indeed. "At Indeed, our mission is to help people get jobs, and that means ensuring they have access to the skills and opportunities this new era demands. By working together with the AI Workforce Consortium, we can make sure that innovation and opportunity advance hand-in-hand, so more people can succeed in the future of work."

Intel
"AI awareness and adoption continue to accelerate worldwide, creating new opportunities to enhance productivity, optimize workflows and drive innovation," said Greg Ernst, Corporate Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer, Intel. "To fully embrace these opportunities, a vibrant ecosystem of AI education and workforce development is vital. Intel – in collaboration with the AI Workforce Consortium - is committed to this mission, expanding digital readiness and skill sets to ensure that the workforce is prepared to responsibly utilize AI now, and well into the future."

SAP
"It is imperative to deliver AI based on the highest security and ethical standards in a way that streamlines compliance across an organization," said Andre Bechtold, President of SAP Industries & Experiences. "SAP is committed to working with the AI Workforce Consortium to help the workforce of today and tomorrow acquire the skills needed to thrive in this era of rapid innovation."  

Resources

• AI Workforce Consortium Microsite
• ICT in Motion: The Next Wave of AI Integration
• AI Workforce Playbook
• Learning Recommendations
• 2025 AI Skills Glossary
• Executive Blog: Learning: Our Greatest AI Advantage

About Cisco
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that is revolutionizing the way organizations connect and protect in the AI era. For more than 40 years, Cisco has securely connected the world. With its industry leading AI-powered solutions and services, Cisco enables its customers, partners and communities to unlock innovation, enhance productivity and strengthen digital resilience. With purpose at its core, Cisco remains committed to creating a more connected and inclusive future for all. Discover more on The Newsroom and follow us on X at @Cisco.

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco's trademarks can be found at http://www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word 'partner' does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.

 

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SOURCE Cisco Systems, Inc.

FAQ

What percentage of ICT roles now require AI skills according to the 2025 Consortium report?

According to the report, 78% of analyzed ICT roles now include AI skills requirements across G7 countries, highlighting a significant shift in job requirements.

What are the fastest-growing AI technical skills in demand for 2025?

The fastest-growing AI technical skills include AI security (+298%), foundation model adaptation (+267%), responsible AI (+256%), and multi-agent systems (+245%).

How many people will the AI Workforce Consortium upskill over the next decade?

The Consortium has committed to upskilling and reskilling 95 million individuals worldwide over the next decade.

Which cities are the leading AI job growth hubs in 2025?

Silicon Valley leads with a 156% increase in AI jobs, followed by London and Toronto. Manchester, Lyon, and Vancouver are emerging as new hubs with over 70% AI job growth.

What new resources is the AI Workforce Consortium providing?

The Consortium is providing three main resources: an AI Workforce Playbook, updated learning recommendations with 200+ curated courses, and an AI Skills Glossary, all accessible through an interactive AI chatbot.