Why cutting junior jobs is quietly deepening tech’s AI skills shortage

Employers struggle to find qualified talent

by · TechRadar

Opinion By Paramita Chatterjee published 5 May 2026

(Image credit: Shutterstock / LALAKA)

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The technology sector has a habit of spotting contradictions everywhere except in its own workforce strategies. Today’s is particularly stark.

Globally, 74% of employers struggle to find qualified talent, with $11.5 trillion in annual productivity lost to skills gaps.

Yet at the same time, overall tech hiring remains materially below pre‑pandemic levels, with entry‑level roles contracting far faster than the rest of the market as AI absorbs routine work.

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Paramita Chatterjee

VP at Cornerstone.

Nowhere is that tension clearer than in AI. There are around 1.6 million unfilled AI roles worldwide, even as the early‑career jobs that once allowed people to build those skills are quietly disappearing.

Employers are calling for advanced capability while narrowing one of the main routes through which future expertise is created.

AI isn’t creating “AI jobs” – it’s reshaping every job

Demand reflects that shift. Our data found that AI and machine learning skills have grown 245%, making them one of the fastest‑growing technical skill categories. At the same time, the traditional split between “technical” and “human” work has collapsed; roles now require a near‑even mix of both.

These capabilities do not appear fully formed. They are developed through exposure to real work, judgement calls and context - historically gained through early‑career roles. Increasingly, those are precisely the activities being absorbed by AI tools.

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