Australian tech leaders struggle to fill rising AI job demand
Australian technology leaders are reporting an increased need for artificial intelligence expertise as demand for AI-related roles continues to grow, according to new research commissioned by Robert Half.
The findings reveal that 92% of technology leaders in Australia state they need AI-related roles within their organisations. The study highlights the positions most in demand, with 35% of respondents seeking AI Product Managers, 29% looking for AI Governance Specialists, and 28% identifying Data Scientists with machine learning expertise as a priority.
Other significant roles being filled or sought after include AI Engineer and AI Architect, both at 28%, LLM/NLP Engineer at 22%, and Robotics Engineer (AI-driven) at 19%. Only a small fraction, 8%, of companies say they have no current requirement for AI talent, with most of these organisations expecting that to soon change.
The research suggests that the requirement for AI expertise is expected to keep climbing, as 91% of technology leaders anticipate a further increase in demand for AI and machine learning roles over the next 12 months. This trend is even more pronounced in larger organisations, where 95% of those surveyed predict growth in demand, compared with 87% of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Soni Huzefa, Senior Practise Director at Robert Half, commented on the evolving role of AI within businesses:
AI is rapidly transforming from an experimental capability to a core business necessity. The breadth of in-demand roles shows that companies are embedding AI into strategy, governance, and operations rather than limiting it to technical development. We are approaching a tipping point where AI skills shift from optional to essential across organisations of all sizes.
Despite the strong demand for AI talent, nearly all organisations recruiting in this area face significant challenges, with 99% reporting hurdles in the hiring process. The research identifies high salary expectations as the most frequently cited barrier, noted by 41% of respondents. This is followed by the scarcity of qualified candidates at 36% and strong competition from other employers, also at 32%.
Challenges also include candidates lacking the right combination of technical and soft skills, with 32% of companies highlighting this as an issue. Additional difficulties are encountered when assessing a candidate's practical AI capabilities during interviews, reported by 30%, and a lack of relevant industry experience, according to 28% of those surveyed.
To address the shortfall in traditional recruitment channels, Australian technology employers are exploring alternative strategies to secure the skilled professionals they require. The study shows that 97% of tech teams are employing various tactics to source AI talent. These approaches include the use of AI-powered tools to improve the candidate matching process, an option used by 50% of organisations.
Other measures adopted include hiring career changers and self-taught engineers with non-traditional backgrounds, cited by 49%. Many organisations are also focusing on promoting ongoing evaluation of business processes (42%) and hiring remotely to access wider or international talent pools (37%).
The shift towards a more flexible approach to candidate selection is echoed by Huzefa:
The competition for AI talent is increasingly about finding professionals who combine technical expertise with business insights and strong soft skills. Employers are responding pragmatically by broadening their candidate search sources, moving beyond traditional candidate pipelines. As demand increases in the world of AI, transferable skills and adaptability are commanding a premium, giving employers that prioritise potential over credentials a distinct advantage in navigating this new landscape.
The research was conducted in July 2025, surveying 500 hiring managers in the fields of finance and accounting, IT and technology, and human resources. Respondents were drawn from a broad sample of organisations across Australia, including small to medium-sized companies as well as larger public, private, and government sector employers.
