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Talent Development Leader

AI Skills: The New Digital Divide

There’s a gap developing among the employees who are skilled in AI and those who are not.

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Mon Oct 20 2025

Forty percent of global jobs could be affected by artificial intelligence, according to the UN Conference on Trade and Development’s The Technology and Innovation Report 2025.

For workers looking to advance their careers, learning AI skills is critically important. Not surprisingly, recent research suggests there’s a rift developing among the employees in their knowledge and skills of AI.

72% vs 54% vs 18% Nearly three-quarters of VPs and C-suite executives use AI daily, compared to half of managers, and just 18 percent of individual contributors. (Bamboo) 50% vs 23% Half of managers and more senior titles receive training compared to nearly one in four individual contributors. (Bamboo) 71% vs 29% There’s a 42 percent gender gap among AI-skilled workers: 71 percent are men; 29% are women. (Randstad) 41% vs 35% Four in 10 men have been offered access to AI skilling opportunities by their employers compared with 35 percent of female workers. (Randstad) 20% vs 50% One in five Baby Boomers have been offered AI skilling, compared to half of Gen Z. (Randstad)

Sources: Bamboo HR, Clarity Over Chaos: Embracing AI for Adaptability and Value; Randstad, Understanding Talent Scarcity: AI and Equity

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