160,000 Missing AI Professionals Shows the UK Has a Pathways Problem

AI Demand Is Moving Faster Than The Talent Pipeline

The UK is not short of ambition. Employers want AI capability across all teams, from cybersecurity and operations to finance and data. The issue is the supply of talent and qualified professionals to fill skills gaps.

According to a recent report by Robert Walters on AI skill shortages, more than half of the AI roles the UK needs by 2028 could be left unfilled if current skills pipelines do not catch up. That not only affects big technology companies but hits every organisation trying to use automation, machine learning, data tools, and AI systems to work faster and make more impactful decisions.

“The scale of projected demand for AI talent is expected to significantly outpace domestic supply growth in many advanced economies, including the UK.

Historically, major advances in technology only translated into meaningful productivity growth once organisations had the workforce capability to implement them at scale. The same dynamic is now emerging with AI, where access to experienced talent will play a defining role in how quickly businesses can convert investment into measurable economic output.”

The Wider Shortage Goes Beyond AI

Although AI is a vital part of the UK’s technical skills story, it’s not the whole of it. 

The Higher Education Policy Institute’s (HEPI) analysis of a report by Frontier Economics highlighted that the UK’s technical skills shortage cannot simply be solved by just training more people; the training pathways themselves require adaptation. 

The UK needs clearer, more practical routes into technical careers, especially in the fast-evolving tech and project management sectors. 

The numbers are stark. The data suggests the UK may need up to 120,000 additional technical professionals by 2035 to keep pace with growth in the Digital and Technologies sector. Independent analysis also describes technical skills shortages across six frontier technologies (including AI and cybersecurity) as widespread and persistent. This emphasises that this hiring pressure is structural, not a passing spike caused by one technology trend.

Employers Need Practical Skills, Not Just Specialist Theory

HEPI’s summary also stresses that employers are experiencing gaps in practical, applied skills, innovative thinking, and the ability to work across disciplines. As revealed in Cornerstone’s 2026 Skills Economy Report, the divide between “technical” and “people” jobs has “collapsed entirely”, meaning soft skills and technical prowess come hand in hand. 

Cybersecurity professionals need to communicate risk. Data Analysts need to transform information into decisions. IT teams need to support live systems under pressure. AI Specialists need to balance the needs of technology, operations, compliance, and business teams.

A lot of the current entry routes in tech and project management are narrow. Between 63% and 73% of early-career workers in frontier industries come from higher education, compared with around 40% across the wider economy. Alternative routes such as apprenticeships, degree apprenticeships, and conversion courses are described as effective, but underused. 

Career-Changers Should Read This As An Opening

If you are considering a move into tech or project management, this data makes it clear which route you should take. The UK does not just need more Computer Science graduates; it needs people who can build job-ready skills, prove them through recognised certifications, and connect existing workplace experience to technical roles. 

“When I speak to our students, I always emphasise the value of their pre-existing work experience. Although on the surface, your years in a different, unrelated profession may seem unhelpful or even detrimental, this is where career-changers can bring value. 

You likely already have had plenty of practice communicating, problem-solving, handling conflict, and managing stakeholders. The next step is adding structured IT, cybersecurity, data, coding, or AI-adjacent technical skills that employers can recognise."

Build A Practical Route Into Tech or Project Management

We help people build certification-led routes into IT, cybersecurity, data analytics, and coding, with career support alongside the training. If you want to move into a high-demand tech role without returning to university full-time, start with a pathway that turns your experience into evidence employers understand. Book a free career consultation to make the first step.