Autodesk's 3rd Annual State Of Design Make Report Reveals Ai Skills Are Top Hiring Priority As Leaders Face Talent Shortages

Autodesk, Inc. NASDAQ: ADSK released the 2025 State of Design Make report today, exploring sentiments from leaders across Design and Make industries on managing cost control, embracing emerging technologies, and addressing the talent and skills gaps. Despite experiencing geopolitical and economic uncertainty, the majority of leaders continue to invest in AI and technology advancement, acquisitions, and sustainability across the board. Although AI and tech investments have slowed post-2024 hype, early adopters are beginning to benefit and refine their strategies.

The accelerating pace of innovation and demand for sustainability is reshaping skill requirements across the industries we serve. This creates both a challenge and a massive opportunity for Design and Make leaders, said Andrew Anagnost , President and CEO, Autodesk . This years findings are clear - companies that invest in bridging the skills gap will be more resilient and better positioned to leverage emerging technologies.

Design and Make industries - architecture, engineering, construction, and operations design and manufacturing and media and entertainment - employ nearly 300 million people worldwide and by 2027 will represent 30 trillion in value globally. Autodesks annual report is the only global study that surveys leaders across these collective industries - highlighting the issues that unite them and distinguishing the challenges unique to each sector.

From Hype to Hard Truths: Leaders Grapple with Challenges of Implementing AI While AI adoption is accelerating, enthusiasm is cooling as companies confront the challenges of implementation - namely finding the trained talent to advance this work. Companies who are investing in technology, including AI are seeing early productivity gains, while those who are less tech-advanced are reassessing their AI strategies or remain in the early adoption stages. Trust in AI has declined, and leaders are becoming more cautious about its disruptive potential.

Nearly half 48 of survey respondents say AI will destabilize their industry, a seven-point increase from last year.

65 of respondents say they trust AI in their field, reflecting an 11-point decline.

Confidence in AI decision-making has also dropped, with 69 of professionals expressing confidence in their companys AI choices, down nine points.