New research highlights a growing mismatch between employer expectations for AI skills and what universities appear to deliver. A Pearson and Amazon Web Services study summarized in reporting says 53% of employers struggle to find graduates with the right AI skill set, while only 28% of employers believe higher education is keeping pace. The report also notes that few recent graduates report high workplace proficiency applying AI tools, and confidence about compliance with institutional AI policies is limited. Even when students use AI for core academics, the skills are not translating into applied job readiness. For institutions and systems, the immediate policy question is how to move from AI literacy toward structured, applied competence—tightening the link between curriculum, workplace tasks, and governance around compliant use.