A recent Careerminds study finds that while over 90% of HR leaders believe their current workforce can be reskilled for artificial intelligence jobs, around half of companies still prefer to hire externally for these roles, exposing a disconnect between intention and action in workforce transformation.
- 92% of HR professionals trust employees can be trained for AI roles
- 51% of companies hire externally despite reskilling confidence
- Visibility into skills and reskilling pathways remain key challenges
What happened
Careerminds conducted a survey in May 2026 that included 595 U.S.-based HR professionals and 547 people managers, revealing that the vast majority believe current employees can be reskilled for AI-related jobs. Specifically, 92% of HR pros and 88% of managers are confident in their workforce's potential to transition into these new roles. However, the survey also found a mismatch in hiring practices: 51% of HR and 47% of managers report hiring new employees from outside the organization rather than redeploying existing talent.
This disconnect highlights that while organizations acknowledge the value of internal talent development, they have yet to consistently convert this belief into practice. Factors such as limited insight into employees' current skill sets and the difficulty of identifying those suited for AI-related retraining are cited as obstacles. Additionally, the study illustrates how external hiring remains a common response despite the higher costs and longer timelines associated with it.
Why it matters
Failing to adequately reskill internal employees for AI roles can lead to missed opportunities to leverage trusted and experienced talent, potentially increasing recruitment costs and lengthening time to fill critical positions. Research referenced in the white paper notes that external hiring can be three to five times more expensive and take up to 20 days longer than internal redeployment. This inefficiency can hinder companies from keeping pace with AI-driven workforce transformation.
The gap between HR confidence in reskilling and actual hiring practice also signals a broader challenge in talent management strategies. Organizations risk underutilizing their workforce potential and may face difficulties adapting to rapid technological changes. Establishing clearer processes for identifying reskilling candidates and better understanding existing skills are essential steps in closing this gap.
What to watch next
Industry-specific hiring and reskilling trends will be crucial to monitor as organizations continue navigating AI workforce needs. For instance, technology and telecom firms lean significantly toward external hiring, whereas media and entertainment industries show a greater emphasis on redeploying employees. Future research could clarify what drives these sector differences and which approaches yield better outcomes.
Further development and adoption of AI-driven skills platforms, like the recent Pearson acquisition of Workera, may help companies gain deeper visibility into employee competencies and streamline reskilling pathways. Observing how these tools influence hiring and talent development strategies across industries will provide insight into closing the reskilling gap in the AI era.