AI may be dominating headlines and boardroom conversations, but is it causing organizations to overlook other critical workforce challenges?

In this episode of TrendWatch, Seth Robinson explores new findings from CompTIA's Workforce and Learning Trends research, revealing how employers are balancing the demand for AI skills with broader technology skill gaps, employee development, and workforce planning.

Discover why AI is not the only priority organizations should be focusing on, how technology leaders are approaching workforce development, and why industry credentials continue to play an important role in hiring, training, and validating skills.

Topics covered:

• AI skills versus foundational technology skills
• Workforce development and talent gaps
• Learning and development trends
• Skills based hiring
• The growing importance of credentials and certifications
• Measuring training outcomes and ROI
• Building a future ready workforce

Read the full research report and explore more industry insights at CompTIA.org.

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The pressure to build a skilled workforce has never been higher — but are organizations actually following through? In this episode of CompTIA TrendWatch, Senior Director of Research Seth Robinson walks through highlights from CompTIA's newly released Workforce and Learning Trends report. This year's research expanded its scope to include IT leaders alongside HR and learning and development professionals, revealing a more complete — and more complicated — picture of how organizations are approaching skill development in 2025.

With 83% of surveyed professionals ranking skill building as a high priority, the intent is clearly there. But intent and execution are two different things. Seth digs into where organizations are putting their money, where communication is breaking down, and why the gap between HR and IT may be one of the biggest obstacles standing between a company and a truly future-proof workforce.

Organizations are concentrating training investments in three areas above all others — AI, cybersecurity, and data. But the report also highlights growing investment in digital fluency across the entire workforce, not just the IT department. As AI literacy becomes a baseline expectation at every level, organizations are being forced to rethink how they assess and develop skills across the board.

One of the more revealing findings is the disconnect between how HR and IT perceive the risks and rewards of training. HR worries about retention. IT worries about ROI. Understanding that divide is the first step toward closing it.

The Workforce and Learning Trends 2026 report is available now: https://www.comptia.org/en/resources/research/workforce-and-learning-trends-2026/

Technology hiring is evolving around the world, but some trends remain surprisingly consistent.

In this episode of CompTIA TrendWatch, Seth Robinson explores new workforce data from the EMEA and APAC regions, uncovering how tech hiring patterns compare to the United States. From software and cybersecurity roles to the growing importance of skills-based hiring, this conversation examines how organizations worldwide are building the future tech workforce.

Topics include:

• Global distribution of tech job roles
• How industries outside of tech are hiring technology talent
• The rise of skills-focused hiring practices
• Why international markets are investing heavily in early-career talent
• Differences between U.S., EMEA, and APAC hiring trends
• What these shifts mean for employers and aspiring tech professionals

As digital transformation accelerates worldwide, understanding where the workforce is heading has never been more important.

Explore CompTIA Research:
https://www.comptia.org/resources/research

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Every time there's a tech layoff, the headlines spiral. But are technology jobs actually in trouble? CompTIA's Seth Robinson breaks down the recurring narratives around tech employment — from big company layoffs to AI fears — and separates the myth from the data.

CompTIA's monthly Tech Jobs Report tells a different story than the headlines. Tech job postings have increased every month so far in 2026, AI hasn't meaningfully impacted those numbers yet, and a single company's headcount swing isn't the same as an occupation in decline.

Seth also tackles the accessibility myth — yes, tech careers are reachable without a four-year degree, but the 126% wage premium over the US median reflects real complexity that requires real training.

What you'll learn:
• Why a tech company layoff isn't the same as a tech occupation crisis
• How big tech headcount growth gets lost in layoff headlines
• What AI is actually doing (and not doing) to tech job numbers
• The truth about how accessible — and how demanding — tech careers really are

Learn more and explore the full report

Artificial intelligence is everywhere, but how much of the workforce is actually using it in meaningful ways?

In this episode of TrendWatch, Seth Robinson breaks down key findings from CompTIA's latest research on AI awareness, familiarity, and real-world usage. While headlines suggest rapid adoption, the reality across industries tells a more nuanced story.

This episode explores three critical insights shaping the future of AI in the workforce:

• Why AI familiarity is still concentrated around a handful of widely known tools
• The growing gap between individual experimentation and true enterprise integration
• How skill-building is evolving from casual learning to structured, role-specific training

As organizations move from curiosity to capability, the challenge isn't just adopting AI, it's integrating it into workflows, aligning teams, and building scalable skills across the workforce.

If you're thinking about where AI fits into your organization, your team, or your own career path, this is a conversation you need to hear.

For more insights and research from CompTIA, visit https://www.comptia.org

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In this episode of CompTIA's TrendWatch, Seth Robinson breaks down key insights from the newly released State of the Tech Workforce report, one of CompTIA's most comprehensive annual analyses of the U.S. tech landscape.

The discussion explores projected growth in tech occupations, the distinction between tech industry jobs and tech roles across all sectors, and what recent data reveals about hiring trends. Seth also addresses common misconceptions around layoffs and explains why they don't necessarily signal a decline in tech careers overall.

A major focus of the episode is the role of AI in the workforce. Rather than replacing jobs, current data shows AI is reshaping roles and transforming how work gets done. The conversation also examines why entry-level hiring slowed and what's really behind that shift, along with the long-term implications for talent pipelines.

This episode offers valuable perspective for anyone entering the tech field, building teams, or planning for the future of workforce development.

Watch to understand where the tech workforce is headed and what it means for you.

Learn more and explore the full report

In this episode of Trend Watch, Seth Robinson breaks down why workforce pipelines are becoming a critical priority for organizations navigating today's tech talent landscape. While artificial intelligence has dominated headlines, the real challenge runs deeper. Companies are struggling to build sustainable pathways that develop talent from entry level to expert.

For years, organizations have leaned heavily on hiring experienced professionals rather than investing in structured development. That approach is no longer scalable. Demand for advanced skills in areas like cybersecurity and data continues to outpace supply, forcing companies to rethink how talent is built, not just acquired.

Seth explores how workforce pipelines are evolving, including the growing role of tech support as a launch point into more advanced careers. Training continues to be the primary strategy for closing skill gaps, with certifications providing a clear, standardized framework for progression. At the same time, many organizations are still early in adopting skills-based approaches and lack a clear understanding of the skills they actually need.

The real shift is not just identifying skills, but translating them into meaningful work. Building a strong workforce pipeline requires structured development, continuous training, and real-world application. Organizations that get this right will be better positioned to close talent gaps and compete in an increasingly complex technology environment.

Takeaways

• Workforce pipelines are essential as demand for experienced talent exceeds supply.
• Hiring alone is no longer a sustainable strategy for building tech teams.
• Cybersecurity and data roles lack clear, scalable entry pathways.
• Training is the leading method companies use to address skill gaps.
• Certifications create consistency and structure in workforce development.
• Skills-based strategies are growing, but execution remains a challenge.
• Tech support is emerging as a key entry point into advanced IT roles.
• Applying skills in real-world environments is critical to long-term success.

In this episode of TrendWatch, Seth Robinson explores the growing impact of automation on modern business operations. While artificial intelligence receives much of the public attention, automation is often the technology that produces the most immediate and measurable changes inside organizations. Automation allows companies to streamline workflows, reduce manual processes, and improve overall productivity.

Seth explains that many automation initiatives do not begin as top down strategic mandates. Instead, they frequently originate within technical teams and operational groups that are closest to the work being performed. These teams identify repetitive processes and opportunities to improve efficiency, which then leads to broader automation efforts across the organization.

The discussion also highlights the relationship between automation and artificial intelligence. AI can enhance automation by introducing new levels of decision making and pattern recognition, but organizations must first understand their workflows and processes before these technologies can deliver meaningful results. Ultimately, companies that succeed with automation are those that treat it as a continuous improvement effort rather than a one time technology deployment.

Takeaways
• Automation is one of the most practical drivers of digital transformation in organizations.
• Many automation initiatives begin with technical teams that identify workflow improvements.
• Automation helps reduce repetitive tasks and increases operational efficiency.
• Artificial intelligence can enhance automation when organizations have strong workflows in place.
• Companies must rethink existing processes in order to fully benefit from automation.
• Successful automation strategies focus on continuous improvement rather than one time projects.
• Automation can improve productivity across both technical and business teams.

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