Workday report shows demand for basic AI skills falls 25% in 2026
WDAY•Workday’s October 2026 Global Workforce Report found demand for basic AI skills fell 25% from a January peak, while demand for build-focused AI skills rose 51%.
1. AI skills shift
The report said 40% of leaders are targeting higher productivity from current staff, while 28% expect AI to reduce headcount. It also found that 57% of employers reported fewer internal moves, and median applicants per filled role rose to 69 from 58; time-to-fill remained near 60 days.



