Mind the AI Gap: Bridging the AI talent mismatch in education and industry

2026
Mikel Albizu, Miren Estensoro
https://doi.org/10.18543/QIED5630
Orkestra Policy Briefs 01/2026

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping labour markets, transforming business processes, and redefining territorial competitiveness. As AI adoption accelerates, new professional profiles are emerging while existing occupations are being reconfigured. However, a growing shortage of skilled professionals is becoming a key barrier to AI deployment, bridging the gap between education system and industry is critical to enhancing competitiveness in the emerging economic model. The experience gained in addressing talent mismatch through collaborative governance within Bilbao Next Lab (BNL), led by Bilbao Ekintza and facilitated by Orkestra-Basque Institute of Competitiveness, provides several lessons gathered in this policy brief.

The findings highlight the importance of agile, systemic, shared and ethical mechanisms to bridge the gap between education and industry. Moreover, the case of BNL demonstrates the strategic role cities can play in gathering key stakeholders, aligning training provision with evolving skill demands, and fostering inclusive and sustainable responses to the AI talent mismatch.

Among these key contents, this policy brief develops a taxonomy of 23 AI-related occupations grouped into three categories: AI Developers, AI Enablers, and hybrid Developer/Enabler profiles. The analysis clarifies the complementary roles of universities and vocational education and training (VET) in preparing these profiles, while also identifying the need to equip the wider workforce with essential AI user skills, particularly in generative AI and machine learning.