• Sectors more exposed to AI are experiencing almost fivefold (4.8x) greater labour productivity growth (‘AI exposed’ means AI can readily be used for some tasks)

• Postings for AI jobs are growing 3.5x faster than for all jobs. For every AI job posting in 2012, there are now seven job postings

• Jobs that require AI skills carry up to a 25% wage premium in some markets

• AI-driven spike in productivity could allow many nations to break out of persistent low productivity growth, generating economic development, higher wages, and enhanced living standards

• Skills sought by employers are changing at a 25% higher rate in occupations most exposed to AI. To stay relevant in these occupations, workers will need to demonstrate or acquire new skills

14 June 2024 –Sectors more exposed to AI are experiencing almost five times (4.8x) higher growth in labour productivity, according to PwC’s inaugural 2024 Global AI Jobs Barometer. 

The report, which analysed over half a billion job ads from 15 countries, suggests that AI could allow many nations to break out of persistent low productivity growth, generating economic development, higher wages, and enhanced living standards. 

The report finds that for every job posting requiring AI specialist skills (like machine learning) in 2012, there are now seven job postings. PwC research also finds that growth in jobs demanding AI skills has outpaced all jobs since 2016, with postings for jobs requiring AI skills growing 3.5x faster than for all jobs.

The findings also highlight economic opportunity for labour forces: jobs that require AI skills carry up to a 25% average wage premium in some markets. 

Skills sought by employers are changing much faster in occupations more exposed to AI, with old skills disappearing – and new skills appearing – in job ads at a 25% higher rate than in occupations less exposed to AI. To stay relevant in these occupations, workers will need to demonstrate or acquire new skills.

As questions abound around the technology’s impact on everything from job security to long-term business viability, the findings highlight positive news, even for workers in sectors most exposed to AI. The findings also reflect a good news story for workers and the global economy in which AI-enabled workers are more productive and more valuable, opening the door to rising prosperity for workers and nations. Like past technological revolutions from electricity to computers, AI is changing what it takes for workers to succeed – and those who adapt may enjoy vast new opportunities. 

Zia Paton

Zia Paton, Digital Solutions leader, PwC in the Caribbean, says:

“AI is reshaping the global labour market, promising economic growth, job expansion, and the emergence of new industries. However, this shift calls for upskilling workers and strategic investments in digital and AI for organisations to thrive in the AI era.”

She continued: “Our recent Caribbean Digital Readiness Survey found that 45% of respondents in the Caribbean now see AI as the most critical technology to their company’s strategy today. Caribbean businesses should continue to keep AI high on the strategic agenda; AI provides much more than efficiency gains. It offers fundamentally new ways of creating value, including a nearly fivefold productivity growth in sectors more exposed to AI such as financial services, information technology and professional services.”

Jobs that require AI skills carry significant wage premiums

Across the five major labour markets for which wage data is available (US, UK, Canada, Australia and Singapore), jobs that require AI specialist skills carry a significant wage premium (up to 25% on average in the US), underlining the value of these skills to companies. Across industries (in the US for example), this can range from 18% for accountants, 33% for financial analysts, 43% for sales and marketing managers, to 49% for lawyers. While the wage premium differs by market, overwhelmingly this is higher in all markets analysed. 

AI penetration is accelerating, particularly in knowledge work sectors 

The study finds that knowledge work sectors are seeing the most rapid growth in the share of roles requiring AI skills. This includes financial services (2.8x higher share of jobs requiring AI skills vs other sectors), professional services (3x higher), and information & communication (5x higher). 

No going back to yesterday’s jobs markets: the skills building imperative

Companies, workers, and policymakers share responsibility for helping workers build the skills to succeed in a fast changing jobs market. Skills demanded by employers in occupations more exposed to AI are changing at a 25% higher rate than in less exposed occupations. 69% of CEOs expect AI will require new skills from their workforce, rising to 87% of CEOs who have already deployed AI, according to PwC’s 27th Annual Global CEO Survey 2024.  

AI-exposed sectors experience productivity surge as AI jobs climb and see up to 25% wage premium: PwC 2024 Global AI Jobs Barometer

About the PwC 2024 Global AI Jobs Barometer

PwC’s new Global AI Jobs Barometer uses half a billion job ads from 15 countries to examine AI’s impact on jobs, skills, wages, and productivity. Analysing data from the past decade and across a large number of sectors, the report provides insight on AI job penetration, salary premiums, vacancy rates and more. The report will be presented at the VivaTech Summit in Paris by PwC global leaders.

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