AI reshapes global labour market into two distinct paths, rewarding human skills: PwC 2026 AI Jobs Barometer

Economy aitechnologyTop News AI reshapes global labour market into two distinct paths, rewarding human skills: PwC 2026 AI Jobs Barometer File Photo: Illustration Shows Google, Microsoft And Alphabet Logos And Ai Artificial Intelligence Words Relevant News Europe’s crisis of confidence 22 June 2026 AI reshapes global labour market into two distinct paths, rewarding human skills: PwC 2026 AI Jobs Barometer 22 June 2026 The future won’t be defined by who tried AI first 22 June 2026 Advertorial 22 June 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber AI is creating a ‘two-track’ labour market: ‘professionalised’ roles and ‘democratised’ roles Companies most able to use AI are seeing faster headcount growth than the least AI-exposed companies (53% vs 36%) and higher wage growth (24% vs 17%) “Super-star companies” most exposed to AI achieved labour productivity gains of 163%, significantly outpacing other businesses Jobs requiring specific AI skills are growing almost eight times (69%) faster since 2019 than the total jobs market (9%), with the average wage premium for AI skills rising to 62% Entry-level outlook diverges: Analysis of US data shows AI-exposed entry-level roles are seven times more likely to require traditionally senior-level skills such as judgement and leadership. These roles grew 35% since 2019, while other entry-level roles declined by 10% According to PwC’s 2026 AI Jobs Barometer, AI is rapidly reshaping the skills employers want most from workers – increasing the emphasis on human skills such as judgement, creativity and leadership – as companies most able to use AI continue to expand hiring faster than their peers. The Barometer, which analysed more than one billion job ads across six continents, also finds that AI is driving a ‘two-track’ global labour market in which ‘professionalised’ roles – in which AI automates routine tasks so human judgement and expertise are emphasized – are growing faster than roles ‘democratised’ by AI – in which AI makes the role itself easier for non-experts to perform. ‘Professionalised’ roles (such as radiologists or recruiters) are seeing twice the growth in available jobs and 42% faster salary growth than those categorised as ‘democratised’ (such as IT service managers or medical secretaries). At the entry level, AI appears to be increasing demand for more ‘senior’ skills from junior workers. Based on 2.4 million entry-level jobs analysed in the US, entry-level roles most exposed to AI are now seven times more likely to require traditionally senior-level ‘human-intensive’ skills like leadership, creativity or face-to-face interactions. Job openings for these ‘seniorised’ entry-level roles have grown 35% since 2019, while other entry-level roles shrank 10%. AI is driving a productivity boom The report finds widening divergence between companies most and least exposed to AI. Companies operating in the most AI-exposed sectors recorded 34% productivity growth in 2025 relative to 2018, compared to 24% for the companies least able to use AI. Within this group, a pronounced “super-star” effect is emerging. The top 20% of the most AI-exposed companies achieved average labour productivity growth of 163% relative to 2018 – nearly five times higher than the most AI-exposed companies overall. Perhaps most surprisingly, headcount growth at the most AI-exposed companies is outpacing growth at the least AI-exposed companies – 52% relative to 36% in 2025, based on 2018 baseline levels. Average wage premium for AI skills hits 62% As companies continue to boost productivity with AI, the average wage premium for workers with AI skills continued to surge higher – hitting 62%, up from 57% last year. The wage premium varies by industry: as high as 118% in some sectors, such as consumer markets, and 16% in government and public sector work. Jobs requiring specific AI skills – such as prompt engineering or machine learning – have also soared, growing roughly eight times (69%) as fast as the overall jobs market, at 8.6%. This growth rate is almost twice as high as 2024, with growth in AI jobs outpacing all jobs since 2015. Sectors including technology, media and telecommunications (11%) and professional services (6%) sectors saw the highest share in AI job growth – with health at the lowest end (less than 1%). Read more: The Future won’t be defined by who tried AI first Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Europe’s crisis of confidence The future won’t be defined by who tried AI first EXPLAINER: Why are Poland and Ukraine at odds about their history? EXPLAINER: UK PM Starmer says he will resign, but how is his successor chosen? Cyprus talks must proceed against UN chief’s December exit, national council hears A decade of chaos: Britain prepares for seventh prime minister Nikolas Farantouris: Cyprus is inseparable from the security of the European Union Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.