Hire or Train? What the Data Says About Closing the AI Skills Gap in 2026

When a company discovers its team lacks critical skills in AI, cybersecurity, or cloud computing, it faces three paths: hire externally, automate with AI tools, or invest in the people already on its team. According to the 2026 Value of IT Certification Employer Report by Pearson, the preferred path — by a wide margin — is the third.

The Real Skills Gap: Numbers No One Can Ignore

Nearly half of organizations report critical skills gaps within their IT teams. This isn’t a minor concern or a passing trend—it’s a structural deficit that directly threatens business competitiveness.

Build vs. Buy: The Talent Decision That Defines the AI Era

When companies face a shortage of tech skills, their strategic options narrow down to three main paths. The comparison below—based on Pearson’s report—makes it clear which one is winning.

The gap is striking: training outpaces hiring by 28 percentage points. Even deploying AI tools — the quintessential tech-forward option — falls behind internal upskilling. Organizations aren't betting on replacing people; they're betting on making people more capable.

Why Companies Choose Upskilling Over Hiring

Cost and speed of implementation

Hiring an experienced AI or cybersecurity expert can cost two to five times more than certifying an existing employee in those areas. On top of that, external recruitment processes can take months, while certification programs can be completed in just weeks.
 

Preserving institutional knowledge

A certified employee who already understands the company’s processes, culture, and systems is exponentially more valuable than an outsider who needs months to ramp up.
 

Upskilling blends new technical skills with existing institutional knowledge—a combination no external hire can deliver from day one.

Certification: The Gold Standard

Within the range of training strategies, one format has clearly emerged as the top choice: professional certifications. In fact, 78% of companies investing in upskilling prioritize certifications, making them the number one option—ahead of online courses, internal workshops, or university programs.

 

Certifications validate not just technical knowledge, but also critical thinking, adaptability, and complex problem-solving—the very capabilities that define professionals who work with AI, not in spite of it.

 

✅ 78% of companies choose certifications as their primary upskilling investment

 

✅ 93% of employers report a positive ROI from certified IT employees

 

✅ 9/10 leaders believe certifications will be even more important in the next 3–5 years

 

Certifications validate not only technical knowledge but also critical thinking, adaptability, and complex problem-solving — the capabilities that define a professional who works with AI, not despite it. They are, in essence, the credential that proves a person can operate at the intersection of human judgment and machine capability.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is upskilling, and how does it differ from reskilling?

Upskilling means broadening and deepening existing skills so a professional can perform better in their current role or take on new responsibilities within the same field. Reskilling involves acquiring entirely new skills to change functions or sectors. In the AI context: upskilling would be a data analyst learning Machine Learning tools; reskilling would be an accountant learning cybersecurity from scratch.

What are the most in-demand technology skills in 2026?

According to Pearson (2026), the three areas with the largest skills gaps are: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (76% of organizations report a deficit), Cybersecurity (59%), and Cloud Computing (52%). These are also the areas where certifications have the greatest impact on employability and career advancement.

Has employee interest in AI certifications grown significantly?

Yes, dramatically. According to Pearson's 2025 Value of IT Certification Candidate Report, the share of professionals planning to earn an AI or Machine Learning certification jumped from 17% in 2022 to 35% in 2024 — more than doubling in just two years. AI is now the second-largest specialty area professionals plan to certify in.

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