In October 2025, job postings for technology roles increased by 5.3% month over month, with nearly half a million open positions reported, according to CompTIA. This surge included 217,238 net new postings, marking a 3.8% rise from September. Tim Herbert, CompTIA’s chief research officer, noted that this growth is a positive sign amid economic uncertainty, highlighting the complex dynamics of the tech workforce despite recent layoffs from major firms like IBM and Accenture. Additionally, there is a marked increase in demand for artificial intelligence roles, with postings for cloud infrastructure architects nearly doubling year over year.
Recent research from Gartner indicates that while artificial intelligence will not lead to a “jobs apocalypse,” it will significantly reshape the workforce, requiring millions to upskill. From 2028 onwards, approximately 32 million jobs each year are expected to be reconfigured or redesigned, with around 150,000 workers needing daily upskilling to adapt to new roles. Helen Poitevin, a distinguished VP analyst at Gartner, emphasizes the importance of clear communication from business leaders to help workers understand the opportunities that AI presents, rather than focusing solely on the disruption it causes. However, the report warns that certain industries, particularly financial services and public sectors, may see a net loss in jobs, leading to skills shortages as new job structures emerge.
A recent report by Atera reveals that 63 percent of IT leaders have seen their roles evolve due to advancements in artificial intelligence. The study, conducted by Censuswide and based on responses from over 1,000 CIOs and IT VPs in the United States, indicates a significant shift in the CIO’s mandate towards driving business value rather than merely supporting IT functions. Notably, 49 percent of respondents identified the need to shape strategy and translate AI into growth as a top priority. However, the report also highlights challenges in integrating AI, with only 12 percent of IT leaders stating that AI ownership within their organizations is clearly defined. Furthermore, 67 percent express difficulty managing cross-functional AI initiatives while maintaining core operations. Atera emphasizes the importance of clarity and coordination in AI projects to avoid fragmented oversight and ensure successful implementation.
Why do we care?
AI isn’t killing jobs — it’s blowing up job descriptions. And organizations are nowhere near ready for that. Everyone wants cloud architects and AI talent, but almost nobody can define who owns AI internally. CIOs are being told to drive business strategy, manage AI programs, and still keep the lights on. It’s not sustainable, and customers know it.
This is where IT service providers have a massive opening. The market doesn’t need more AI features — it needs someone to bring order to the chaos. Someone to define ownership, to coordinate projects between departments, to translate AI from hype into actual business value.
And that’s a gap MSPs are perfectly positioned to fill, if they move now.
But here’s the risk: if you stay focused on traditional infrastructure work, you’re going to get sidelined. The organizations that figure out AI strategy will control the budgets. The ones that don’t will still need help — but they’ll need help with governance, not just support tickets.
So, the takeaway? Step into the role of AI translator. Be the one who brings structure to these initiatives. Because with millions of jobs being reconfigured each year, customers aren’t looking for someone to keep systems running. They’re looking for someone to help them navigate the shift. And that’s an opportunity MSPs can’t afford to miss.