The demand for artificial intelligence skills in supply chain is accelerating at a rate that far exceeds the broader labor market, creating a widening talent gap that organizations cannot close through hiring alone,” according to Tess Frenzel, director analyst in Gartner’s Supply Chain practice.

Gartner data released June 15 indicates that demand for supply chain roles requiring AI skills has increased 387% from Q1 2023 to Q1 2026, significantly outpacing overall labor market growth and intensifying competition for qualified talent.

The business and technology insights company says that, with the help of data partner Coresignal, it analyzed more than 35 million job postings over that three-year period, including almost 600,000 roles in supply chain. Analysts found that a burgeoning demand for supply chains jobs requiring AI skills means there is increasing competition for a limited pool of qualified candidates, contributing to higher costs, and longer hiring timelines for roles that require both supply chain expertise and AI proficiency. 

Gartner also found that job postings disproportionately targeted AI capabilities in mid-senior  and director-level roles.

To foster AI proficiency at all levels, not just senior ones, Gartner advises CSCOs to prioritize internal upskilling and expand the use of entry-level talent to build a sustainable pipeline of AI capabilities. Although entry-level roles represent a significant portion of overall hiring, they account for a much smaller share of roles requiring AI skills, indicating an underused workforce segment with growing AI familiarity.

“CSCOs should take a balanced approach by accelerating internal upskilling and more effectively leveraging entry-level talent to build a sustainable pipeline of AI capabilities,” said Frenzel. “Organizations that invest in both experienced professionals and emerging talent will be better positioned to scale AI adoption and prepare their workforce for the future of supply chain.”