The Race for AI-Ready Tech Talent Has Begun
By: Ben Coulter | Southeast Regional Director + Chancellor WGU NC | Western Governors University
The AI revolution isn’t just changing how we work; it’s rewriting the entire tech career playbook. Employees everywhere feel the rapid shift, but for those ready to embrace it, this disruption is an unprecedented gateway. AI is opening massive new technological opportunities — giving forward-thinking minds a rare chance to dive into the core architecture of these systems and actively engineer what comes next.
The World Economic Forum projects AI may displace 92 million jobs globally by 2030, while simultaneously creating 170 million new roles. That’s a net gain of 78 million positions, with technology, data and AI among the fastest-growing layers of skills employers are seeking.
Many of these jobs will require workers who understand how AI systems work in real environments. JobsByCulture estimates there are 1.6 million AI-related positions globally, but only 518,000 qualified workers. LinkedIn shows more than 8,000 AI-related job openings in North Carolina across AI engineering, machine learning, data science, AI consulting and related roles.
According to a recent Workforce Decoded report issued by Western Governors University (WGU), nearly half of employers (48%) say outdated skills are a major driver of talent shortages at their companies. That indicates that as AI reshapes the workplace, the workers who keep learning are the ones best positioned to stay ahead. In North Carolina, 70% of survey respondents are changing the type of candidates they are hiring due to AI.
Companies are already investing in AI tools, and many are seeing measurable returns. According to Accenture’s 2024 “Reinventing Enterprise Operations with Gen AI” report, 74% of organizations said their generative AI and automation investments either met or exceeded expectations. Nearly two-thirds said they plan to expand those efforts by 2026.
Job postings since the November 2022 launch of ChatGPT mention at least one of 45 AI-related skills, with the sharpest jump in demand from July 2025 to June 2026. According to Taylor Richards, senior research analyst at WGU, that lag suggests employers took time to translate technology into concrete hiring needs before demand took off.
The rise of AI engineering reflects how quickly the market has evolved. According to Onward Search, AI engineer is now the fastest-growing AI job category in 2026.
Training people for those jobs is the focus of WGU’s new Bachelor of Science in AI Engineering program, which has already attracted attention in the technology sector. Coursework began on July 1, and more than 1,000 students have already expressed interest in enrolling in the online degree program. Students gain experience with Python, C#, Microsoft Azure, machine learning pipelines, and responsible AI practices, then apply it through real-world projects and a capstone focused on applied problem-solving.
At a recent Axios Live event in Atlanta, Paul LaForge, vice president and dean of the department of computer science, software, AI and data at WGU, said the degree is “not just for those who want to use models, but those who want to build models and the systems that support AI.”
According to Jared Plumb, associate dean of WGU’s AI engineering and software engineering programs, AI can be powerful, but it is not a universal solution. “From a computer science or software engineering standpoint, the question is how to implement AI correctly and responsibly,” Plumb said.
As AI adoption expands, employers will be increasingly looking for workers who can translate AI capabilities into practical business outcomes, and that shift is creating new opportunities.
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Ben Coulter is regional director, Southeast Region, and chancellor of Western Governors University in North Carolina.
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