New research by PwC reveals that jobs demanding artificial intelligence (AI) skills offer significantly higher wages compared to roles without these skills. The study examines data from over 500 million job ads across 15 countries, showing wage premiums for AI-related roles and a notable increase in job opportunities requiring AI skills.
New research by PwC indicates that jobs requiring artificial intelligence (AI) skills command significantly higher wages compared to those that don’t. The study, involving over 500 million job ads posted last year across 15 countries in North America, Europe, and Asia, found that in the United States, wages for AI-related roles are on average 25% higher than for similar positions lacking these skills.
The premium varies by country, with the United Kingdom and Canada seeing wage increases of 14% and 11%, respectively. Certain professions showed even more pronounced differences; for example, U.S. lawyers with AI skills could earn a 49% wage premium and financial analysts a 33% premium over their non-AI-skilled counterparts.
According to PwC, sectors with high demand for AI skills and a scarcity of skilled professionals are more likely to witness these wage premiums. The study also revealed that the number of jobs requiring AI skills grew 3.5 times faster than the total of all jobs from 2012 to 2023.
Barret Kupelian, PwC UK’s chief economist, noted that the skills required by employers in AI-exposed roles are changing 25% faster than those in other occupations. As AI adoption continues, this trend is expected to lead to the creation of new roles and a decrease in demand for other skills.
The report also highlights that labor productivity in industries exposed to AI is growing 4.8 times faster than in other sectors. Enhanced productivity through AI could boost real wage growth and sustain economic growth, especially crucial for countries with stagnant productivity, such as the United Kingdom.
