There’s a Shortage of AI Talent: How Can You Fill the Gap? 

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Although artificial intelligence seeks to replace and automate some roles, it has also prompted a huge spike in new positions. More companies are now using AI technology to optimize routine processes and tasks, increase productivity and efficiency, and make faster business decisions.

The demand for AI talent cuts across several industries but there aren't enough specialists to go around. Many companies are yet to adopt artificial intelligence because there's a huge skills gap in the field. But, they are looking to provide on-the-job experience for AI graduates.

Statistics on AI jobs

AI job postings have been steadily increasing all through the years. From May 2018 to May 2019, there was a 29% growth in AI jobs on Indeed (though lesser than in the previous two years). This shows that there are several job opportunities for AI professionals.

There's also a shortage of AI specialists who are looking for jobs. From May 2018 to May 2019, there was a 14.5% decrease in candidate searches for AI-related jobs. It means that very few people are choosing to pursue a career in artificial intelligence.

Some AI jobs have the largest number of job postings and the highest salaries in the field. They include: machine learning engineers, deep learning engineers, senior data scientists, algorithm developers, computer vision engineers, and data warehouse architects.

Which countries are leading in AI employment?

Ever since we discovered that AI is the future of technology, certain countries have been very committed to its adoption. The top AI experts are being trained and employed in countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, China, Germany, Canada, France and Japan.

However, American employers seem to attract the most AI professionals in the field. It was also found that most AI specialists don't work in the same country where they got trained. But, the countries above have been successful at retaining the ones trained at home and abroad.

How You Can Get Started in A Career in AI?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,  artificial intelligence jobs are projected to grow 31.4% by 2030. AI specialists are needed in industries such as healthcare, retail, logistics, cybersecurity, banking and finance, customer service, marketing, transportation, etc.

There are tons of opportunities for anyone who has AI skills. These jobs could pay an average base salary of $125,000 a year. Whether you have a background in programming or you are looking to switch careers from a non-technical field, here are the steps for getting into AI.

• The types of qualifications you need

If you're trying to learn AI without a degree, an online certificate in artificial intelligence can help you get started. The credits gained can also be put towards a bachelor's degree later. Useful college majors for AI include computer science, mathematics or statistics, and data science.

AI specialists should learn programming languages (Python, C/C++), database management (CouchBase, DynamoDB), data analysis and statistics (pandas, R, MATLAB), AI platforms (Google Cloud AI, Microsoft Azure AI), and data acquisition systems (physical and wireless sensors).

• Specialize

Although the AI workforce is experiencing a huge talent gap, some specializations seem to have the greatest skills shortage. For example, machine learning engineers are expected to possess good software skills as well as apply predictive models and natural language processing when working with large data sets.

A robotic scientist should know how to build mechanical devices or robots that can take commands and perform various tasks. A business intelligence developer has to discover business and market trends by analyzing complex data. An AI research scientist should also be an expert in multiple AI disciplines.

• Find an internship

Artificial Intelligence internships seek to teach students how to understand data, make predictions, and form decisions around them. They offer interns an opportunity to develop specialized skills and understand the tools and techniques being utilized in the field of AI.

Interns can choose to master one or two types of AI and machine learning technologies. They include: speech recognition, object detection and localization, computer vision, natural language processing, multimodal learning, forecasting, and recommendation systems.

• Get on-the-job training

Many companies are unable to find AI talent because academic and training programs have not been updated. As we keep discovering and innovating new AI solutions, AI professionals need to keep upskilling and learning the latest technologies in the field.

AI specialists in entry-level roles can approach their employers or managers and suggest on-the-job training in AI and machine learning. Employers can also sponsor members of their AI team who wish to further their education, improve their skills and move up the AI ladder.

• Consider an international job or internship.

The biggest tech companies such as Google, Facebook and Microsoft are looking to create AI-driven products. Currently, they have lots of open positions for AI specialists. Several other companies are also actively involved in AI development and they need AI talent too.

Some countries offer more opportunities for AI specialists so applicants should not hesitate to apply for international jobs or internships. They can find AI and machine learning jobs on popular job boards such as Linkedin, Indeed, Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter and more.