Almost all of the highest paying jobs in information technology (IT) have made AI skills a must have, according to a study of 5,301 live IT job vacancies in April 2024.
Analysis of the vacancies, advertised on recruitment platform Indeed, revealed that 97 percent of IT posts with salaries above £100,000 demand AI skills as a core requirement.
Researchers, from Thomson Reuters who conducted the study, said that the number of specialist AI roles are increasing as employers futureproof their technology departments.
They study also found a wide range of new specialist roles being advertised including director of AI and products, generative AI solutions architect and machine learning engineer.
More than a quarter (28 percent) of all IT job openings now require AI skills in either their job title or within their primary requirement, with demand for these skill sets increasing in the higher salary brackets.
Skill premium
In October 2023, research from Oxford University and the University of Copenhagen found that having AI skills allows workers to add an average 21 percent skill premium to their salary.
Mary Alice Vuicic, chief people officer at Thomson Reuters, said: “Across corporates and the professions, the demand for AI talent is continuing to accelerate at a remarkable pace.
“Companies are now required to not just embrace change, but to actively participate in shaping and directing it,” she said. “As companies begin to implement these emerging technologies, they’re investing in the right talent to lead that process.”
However, she added that employers also need to build trust across their teams to ensure their whole organisation is onboard with their AI transformation. This includes fostering understanding and knowledge of AI, its impact on the workplace, and highlighting the benefits of AI.
“This will help provide a supportive and effective environment for AI learning and adoption across organisations.”
The findings were released as the company published its 2024 Generative AI in Professional Services report. This report said that 54 percent of professionals in corporations, law and accounting firms and government organisations believe GenAI should be applied to their work, while just 16 percent said it should not.
“By removing the more repetitive and administrative elements of certain jobs, AI presents the opportunity to boost productivity for high-skilled workers as they can focus on more valuable tasks. Bringing in the right expertise is crucial to ensure this implementation can be scaled smoothly to all parts of the business, and existing staff can receive appropriate training and skills development,” Vuicic added.
