The U.S. federal government’s recent push to hire AI professionals has sparked an unprecedented wave of interest, with thousands of applicants vying for roles across various agencies. A report directed to the President highlighted this surge in interest, revealing that in the month following the AI-focused executive order issued by the Biden Administration, tech talent programs experienced a staggering 288% increase in AI job applications compared to previous periods.
Since the rollout of the executive order in October, agencies have already hired over 150 individuals in AI and AI-enabled roles, with 15 agencies bringing on at least one AI professional. Looking ahead, agencies plan to hire an additional 500 AI workers by the end of 2025.
However, the government’s AI hiring efforts are facing challenges due to the already limited supply of specialized talent in the field. This shortage underscores the importance of taking a holistic approach to bridging the skills gap.
To address this challenge, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management intends to review executive core qualifications for government leadership roles, with a focus on incorporating data and AI literacy. This aligns with the broader goal of ensuring that the federal workforce not only includes dedicated AI talent but also possesses the necessary understanding of how to responsibly leverage AI to achieve organizational goals.
A recent pulse survey conducted by the task force revealed that approximately 50% of federal employees believe their organizations lack the right staff for building, managing, or procuring AI. Additionally, many respondents cited a lack of clarity regarding the process for requesting necessary resources.
As part of the AI upskilling initiative, federal employees will gain access to training sessions covering various aspects of AI, including general knowledge, leadership, procurement, and technical skills. Several agencies have also launched pilot programs aimed at training 500 new researchers by 2025.
The pressure to bolster AI capacity extends beyond the government sector, with tech leaders across industries investing in AI engineers, data scientists, and cybersecurity experts. This strategic realignment of the workforce underscores the evolving landscape of tech hiring needs, driven by the increasing adoption of AI technologies and their impact on organizational workflows.