According to ZDNet, IT jobs are projected to grow three times faster than all other occupations at 9% versus 3% from 2024 to 2034, with AI security concerns driving much of this demand. The 2026 State of IT report surveying 800 professionals found that 63% now consider AI prompting skills important, a 53% increase from last year, yet only 49% feel confident in their AI abilities. Companies are investing heavily in AI infrastructure, with AI software accounting for 2.7% of IT computing spending, though analysts suggest the real investment is four to five times higher when including supporting infrastructure. Amazon Web Services’ Rodrigo Gazzaneo described a “crawl, walk, run” adoption strategy where companies start with small, attainable AI goals before scaling to significant ROI through improved customer satisfaction and financial wins.
The AI job paradox nobody’s talking about
Here’s what’s fascinating about all this AI panic. While everyone’s worried about machines taking jobs, IT roles are actually exploding. The Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows IT growing at triple the rate of other fields. But here’s the catch – the nature of those jobs is changing dramatically.
We’re seeing this weird confidence gap where companies desperately need AI skills but IT pros don’t feel prepared. Only 49% are confident in their AI abilities? That’s a massive opportunity for anyone willing to skill up. And companies are pouring money into AI infrastructure – when you factor in all the supporting systems, we’re talking serious investment here. For industrial operations implementing AI, having reliable hardware like the industrial panel PCs from IndustrialMonitorDirect.com becomes crucial since they’re the interface between AI systems and physical operations.
The training gap that’s holding everyone back
This is where things get frustrating. Companies are spending millions on AI tools but skimping on training. A Wharton School study found investment in training has actually softened, even though lack of training resources ranks among the top 10 barriers to AI adoption. Seriously?
So we’ve got this perfect storm: massive AI investments, growing job demand, but inadequate training. IT professionals are basically being told to figure it out themselves. Peter Tsai from Spiceworks put it bluntly – if you’re in IT, learning about AI is “a very smart thing to do now.” Basically, the message is: don’t wait for your company to train you, because they probably won’t.
Why the crawl-walk-run approach actually works
I love the practical advice from AWS’s Gazzaneo about starting small. The manufacturing example he shared is perfect – using AI to handle routine exceptions in supply chain systems without needing data scientists. That’s the “crawl” phase: pick low-hanging fruit that delivers quick wins.
The leap from walking to running is where most companies get stuck. Gazzaneo calls it a “leap of faith” but emphasizes it should be based on business impact judgment, not blind faith. Companies that successfully navigate this transition are seeing real ROI through improved customer satisfaction and financial performance. The key is building momentum with small successes rather than trying to boil the ocean from day one.
What this means for your IT career
Look, if you’re in IT, the writing is on the wall. AI prompting skills are becoming as fundamental as knowing how to troubleshoot a network. The 53% jump in importance year-over-year is staggering. But here’s the thing – you don’t need to become an AI expert overnight.
Start with the crawl phase in your own career. Learn one AI tool really well. Understand how to prompt effectively. Get comfortable with the security implications. The companies that are succeeding with AI aren’t the ones making massive bets – they’re the ones building competence gradually. And right now, there’s a huge first-mover advantage for IT professionals who get ahead of this curve.
