Talent Gaps Cripple Project Execution as Generative AI Complicates Hiring
Event summary
- A Robert Half survey of 2,000 US hiring managers reveals that only 6% of organizations possess the talent needed to complete priority projects.
- 62% of managers report skills gaps are more pronounced than they were a year prior (as of November 2025).
- 65% of managers cite increased hiring difficulty due to generative AI impacting application quality and candidate assessment.
- 83% of managers express confidence in their business outlook for 2026, with 43% anticipating strong growth.
- 60% plan to add permanent staff and 55% expect to increase contract hiring in the first half of 2026.
The big picture
The survey highlights a critical vulnerability for businesses entering 2026: a widening skills gap that threatens project execution and growth. While optimism remains high, the inability to secure necessary talent, compounded by the challenges of evaluating AI-generated applications, suggests a potential drag on economic performance. This trend underscores the increasing importance of flexible workforce models and innovative talent acquisition strategies.
What we're watching
- AI Impact
- The continued proliferation of generative AI will likely exacerbate the difficulty in accurately assessing candidate skills, forcing employers to invest further in validation processes and potentially driving up hiring costs.
- Contract Reliance
- The increased reliance on contract workers to fill immediate skills gaps may hinder long-term innovation and institutional knowledge transfer within organizations.
- Growth Constraints
- The persistent talent shortage poses a significant risk to the anticipated strong company growth, potentially limiting revenue generation and delaying strategic initiatives.
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