Bergur Thormundsson
Research expert covering technology in the Nordics, AI and smart cities
Artificial intelligence (AI) job market - statistics & facts
The desired skill for nearly all technical professions in 2024 can be summed up in a simple term: artificial intelligence (AI). While the occasional butcher or carpenter may not require AI skills to the same level if at all, it has become clear that adding an AI skill to your repertoire is growing in importance. Hiring managers across the globe look for talents in handling AI when inspecting potential candidates. How skilled in AI tools a job candidate is will likely have great impact on their hire ability.
ICT education is a divided field
Skills in computer science, computer engineering, or information technology bachelor’s degree graduates have grown incredibly since 2012, with the highest-ranked countries showing an over 150 percent growth in the field in Europe. The United States and Canada have seen a similar explosion in new graduates in the field. However, it is noteworthy that while bachelor’s degree and PhD holders are growing, there is no significant increase in those who hold a master’s degree. This suggests a certain disparity between those going for immediate skills where a bachelor’s is enough, and those who go into more theoretical academic careers with a PhD. The lack of an increase in master’s degree holders suggests they provide little improvement in employability compared to the work required.Workers probe AI use
Even if a place of employment does not provide AI tools, many workers have begun to use those commercially available to speed up and improve their work. The Asia-Pacific and Latin-America regions were the furthest ahead with European and North American workers being less willing to use AI tools. It can be argued that Europe and North America are likely further ahead of other continents in the use of AI tools, thus likely reducing the need for workers to go out on their own to find the tools they need. However, not all users use these tools at the same rate, with less than half using them numerous times since generative AI tools become commercially available.AI tools seem unlikely to go away
No matter whether you are a worker, a manager, or a business owner, it is ill-advised not to look at the possibilities of AI tools for your profession. It will become increasingly important for workers of all ages, but especially those who are entering the labor market, to adapt and inform themselves of the current trends and capabilities of AI tools. The alternative is to willingly make yourself a less desirable worker and give others a head start in a competitive world.
