Artificial intelligence isn’t just reshaping jobs—it’s reshaping how people prepare for them.
New research from CompTIA finds that 87% of active job seekers believe digital fluency skills are essential in today’s workforce, with learning the fundamentals of AI topping the list of capabilities they want to develop.
The findings, published in the latest CompTIA Job Seeker Trends report, arrive at a pivotal moment: roughly 31% of the U.S. labor force—about 53 million people—reported pursuing a new job or career change between November 2025 and January 2026.
That’s not a marginal shift. It’s a workforce recalibration.
A Massive, Motivated Job Market
The survey, conducted in mid-January by Morning Consult and based on nearly 2,300 U.S. adults evenly split between active job seekers and non-seekers, paints a picture of a labor market that is both dynamic and divided.
Younger workers are driving much of the movement. Among those aged 18–34, 61% report actively seeking new employment. But confidence in the broader job market is uneven:
-
43% believe the job market is weak
-
24% believe it is strong
-
33% rate it as average
CompTIA describes the environment as a “K-shaped” economy—where one segment of workers feels optimistic about career mobility, while another feels compelled to move out of concern for stability.
“This pattern points to a split in the labor market,” said Amy Carrado, senior director of research and market intelligence at CompTIA.
For HR leaders, that split matters. It signals that workforce churn isn’t solely about ambition—it’s also about anxiety.
AI Skills: From Nice-to-Have to Career Insurance
The headline number—87% prioritizing digital fluency—underscores a broader trend: AI is quickly becoming foundational, not specialized.
Active job seekers aren’t just dabbling in AI tools. They see AI literacy as a competitive necessity. Learning the basics of AI leads the list of skills workers want to build, signaling a shift from reactive reskilling to proactive positioning.
This aligns with what many HR tech vendors are reporting: increased demand for AI-related learning modules, micro-credentials, and certification pathways embedded into talent development platforms.
It also reframes AI from a threat narrative (“Will AI replace me?”) to a leverage narrative (“How do I work with AI?”).
What Workers Expect from Employers on AI
Even employees who aren’t actively job hunting have clear expectations around AI in the workplace. Workers say they want:
-
Training on how to use AI tools effectively in their specific role
-
Clear policies and governance on AI use
-
Assurance that responsible AI use won’t jeopardize job security
-
Dedicated time during work hours to build AI skills
That’s a tall order for HR and L&D teams. It suggests AI enablement isn’t a one-off webinar—it’s an ongoing organizational capability.
Companies that fail to provide structured AI upskilling risk sending employees elsewhere to find it.
Why Workers Are Moving—and Why Some Aren’t
The motivations behind job seeking reveal economic and lifestyle pressures that HR teams ignore at their peril.
Top drivers of job searches include:
-
Financial changes, particularly among workers earning under $100,000
-
Shifting life priorities
-
Burnout and stress (especially among 18–34-year-olds)
-
Feeling “stuck” professionally
Meanwhile, workers staying put cite practical constraints:
-
Inability to leave without securing another job
-
Lack of financial cushion
-
Housing and relocation limitations
-
Mobility barriers, particularly among Gen Z
These constraints highlight an often-overlooked dynamic: career fluidity is increasingly shaped by housing affordability and financial resilience as much as by skills or ambition.
Tech Roles: A Timely Bet
Among active job seekers, technology careers are firmly in the mix. Top career paths under consideration include:
-
Sales, marketing, retail, and real estate
-
Hospitality and tourism
-
Healthcare
-
Technology, IT, cybersecurity, data, software, AI, and IT project management
-
Business and finance
Those eyeing tech roles may be making a well-timed move. CompTIA’s separate labor market data shows employer job postings for tech occupations surpassed 465,000 in January, up 4% month over month.
While tech hiring cycles have cooled compared to the pandemic-era surge, demand for cybersecurity, data analytics, AI integration, and IT project management remains resilient.
The Confidence Gap in Tech
Despite the interest, a persistent confidence gap remains. Many job seekers believe tech careers may be out of reach due to perceived barriers—education requirements, experience gaps, or industry stereotypes.
Yet respondents identified clear entry pathways:
-
Earning a technical, industry-recognized certification
-
Training in an in-demand technical skill
That’s significant for the broader HR tech ecosystem. Certifications—long championed by CompTIA—are increasingly viewed as pragmatic onramps into tech, especially as traditional degree requirements loosen in many sectors.
For employers, this signals an opportunity: rethink credentialing requirements, partner with certification providers, and invest in structured career mobility programs that convert internal talent into tech-ready professionals.
The HR Tech Implications
For HR and talent leaders, the findings point to three strategic shifts:
1. AI Enablement Is a Retention Strategy
AI training isn’t just about productivity. It’s about employee confidence and career security.
2. Internal Mobility Must Be Visible
Workers are looking outward partly because they don’t see clear growth paths inward.
3. Skills-Based Hiring Is Gaining Momentum
Certifications and demonstrated competencies are rising in importance, challenging rigid degree-based filters.
As 53 million Americans actively explore new roles, the message is clear: workers are not waiting for the future of work to arrive—they’re preparing for it.
The question is whether employers will move just as quickly.
Join thousands of HR leaders who rely on HRTechEdge for the latest in workforce technology, AI-driven HR solutions, and strategic insights
