In Tashkent, business representatives and experts discussed whether artificial intelligence can compensate for the shortage of qualified personnel. The discussion took place as part of preparations for the international financial innovation forum FINNEXT Asia 2026. Representatives of banks, insurance companies, the IT sector, and consulting participated in it.
According to a study presented by Yulia Yakovleva, director of the Association of Employers of Uzbekistan, in 2025, the number of vacancies for BI analysts and data analysis specialists increased by 102%. At the same time, applicants' salary expectations were 2.1 times higher than employers' offers. In the development segment, the number of vacancies grew by 6%, while programmers' expectations, on the contrary, were lower than the offered salaries. This indicates significant differences in the personnel situation within the IT industry.
The discussion participants emphasized that the mere implementation of AI is not enough: companies need quality data, a review of business processes, and staff training. Among the most in-demand competencies were working with analytics and metrics, strategic thinking, project management, initiative, the ability to adapt to instability, and an understanding of sustainable development principles.
