
你可能已在Fortune Intelligence等處讀到過(guò)相關(guān)報(bào)道,甚至或許你或你的朋友已受到影響,AI正在深刻重塑工作模式,尤以招聘、解雇兩方面為甚。其沖擊在勞動(dòng)力市場(chǎng)體現(xiàn)得最為明顯。作為AI應(yīng)用的原爆點(diǎn),科技行業(yè)見(jiàn)證著大批員工被其參與創(chuàng)造的創(chuàng)新技術(shù)所取代。企業(yè)競(jìng)相將AI融入從云基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施到客戶支持的各個(gè)環(huán)節(jié),同時(shí)縮減軟件工程、IT支持和行政職能的人員規(guī)模。AI驅(qū)動(dòng)的自動(dòng)化浪潮不斷加快科技行業(yè)的裁員速度,有統(tǒng)計(jì)顯示,受影響員工數(shù)量已高達(dá)8萬(wàn)人。僅微軟一家公司就裁減了1.5萬(wàn)個(gè)崗位,該公司同時(shí)承諾向新AI項(xiàng)目再投入800億美元。
不過(guò)勞動(dòng)力市場(chǎng)情報(bào)公司Lightcast提供的數(shù)據(jù)為未來(lái)帶來(lái)了一線希望。那些要求具備AI技能的非技術(shù)崗位的薪資水平正在大幅飆升。Lightcast發(fā)布的新報(bào)告《超越喧囂》(Beyond the Buzz)對(duì)超過(guò)13億份招聘信息進(jìn)行了分析,結(jié)果顯示,此類(lèi)職位的薪資平均增加了28%——相當(dāng)于每年多賺近1.8萬(wàn)美元。該研究凸顯了技術(shù)與非技術(shù)領(lǐng)域招聘的分化:技術(shù)類(lèi)崗位對(duì)AI技能的需求依然強(qiáng)勁,但I(xiàn)T與計(jì)算機(jī)科學(xué)領(lǐng)域中的AI職位占比已從2019年的61%下降至2024年的49%。這表明隨著AI承擔(dān)的工作份額日益增加,傳統(tǒng)技術(shù)崗位的規(guī)模正持續(xù)萎縮。
非技術(shù)領(lǐng)域AI需求爆發(fā)式增長(zhǎng)
Lightcast的研究表明,AI非但沒(méi)有扼殺就業(yè)機(jī)會(huì),反而正在將機(jī)遇播撒到更廣泛的經(jīng)濟(jì)活動(dòng)之中。2024年要求具備AI技能的所有職位中,有超半數(shù)來(lái)自非科技行業(yè)——這與前些年AI局限于硅谷和計(jì)算機(jī)科學(xué)實(shí)驗(yàn)室的情況相比,形成了天翻地覆的變化。市場(chǎng)營(yíng)銷(xiāo)、人力資源、金融、教育、制造業(yè)和客戶服務(wù)等領(lǐng)域都在快速整合AI工具,從生成營(yíng)銷(xiāo)內(nèi)容的GenAI平臺(tái),到優(yōu)化供應(yīng)鏈與招聘流程的預(yù)測(cè)分析引擎,應(yīng)有盡有。
事實(shí)上,2022年以來(lái),在ChatGPT、Microsoft Copilot和DALL-E等工具快速普及的推動(dòng)之下,在招聘時(shí)要求具備GenAI技能的非IT、計(jì)算機(jī)科學(xué)領(lǐng)域崗位數(shù)量已暴增八倍之多。營(yíng)銷(xiāo)、設(shè)計(jì)、教育及人力資源領(lǐng)域是目前AI應(yīng)用增長(zhǎng)最快的行業(yè),都在積極適應(yīng)新的工具箱、工作流程和價(jià)值創(chuàng)造模式。
LightCast負(fù)責(zé)研究創(chuàng)新與人才洞察的副總裁科爾·納珀在接受《財(cái)富》雜志采訪時(shí)表示,盡管當(dāng)前招聘信息中對(duì)AI技能的需求激增,但受其沖擊最大的行業(yè)分布卻無(wú)顯著規(guī)律,藝術(shù)類(lèi)崗位反而排在首位,這一現(xiàn)象令他頗為訝異。
AI技能需求旺盛
對(duì)廣大勞動(dòng)者而言,掌握AI技能正成為當(dāng)今回報(bào)最高的技能投資之一。如能掌握兩項(xiàng)或更多AI技能能,薪資水平還有望進(jìn)一步提高,比招聘廣告中的薪資再高出43%。
根據(jù)Lightcast的《2025年AI指數(shù)報(bào)告》(2025 Artificial Intelligence Index Report),2024年,有超過(guò)66000個(gè)職位在招聘信息中明確要求應(yīng)聘者掌握GenAI技能,較前一年增長(zhǎng)近四倍。 需求量第二的AI技能是大語(yǔ)言模型 (Large language modeling),提及該技能的招聘信息有19500條。ChatGPT和提示詞工程兩項(xiàng)技能則分列第三、第四。
在客戶支持、銷(xiāo)售和制造等行業(yè),由于各家公司競(jìng)相推動(dòng)常規(guī)職能自動(dòng)化,力圖借助AI獲取競(jìng)爭(zhēng)優(yōu)勢(shì),所以給AI人才開(kāi)出的薪酬漲幅最大。
AI營(yíng)銷(xiāo)服務(wù)公司Thoughtlight創(chuàng)始人克里斯蒂娜·英奇在發(fā)給《財(cái)富》雜志的信息中表示,AI不僅能夠自動(dòng)處理繁瑣事務(wù),更已成為員工提升自身對(duì)公司價(jià)值的工具,其可以通過(guò)熟練掌握AI技能在職場(chǎng)中脫穎而出。她舉例說(shuō),銷(xiāo)售人員可以利用AI更有的放矢地與客戶進(jìn)行溝通,從而加快成交速度??头藛T亦是如此。
英奇強(qiáng)調(diào):“精通AI的客服人員不僅懂得如何解讀AI輸出的結(jié)果,能編寫(xiě)清晰的提示詞,還能在AI應(yīng)答偏離預(yù)設(shè)軌道時(shí),及時(shí)干預(yù)修正,解決問(wèn)題。這種能將人類(lèi)判斷力與AI技能熟練結(jié)合的人才極為稀缺,完全值得企業(yè)支付額外薪酬?!?/p>
在市場(chǎng)營(yíng)銷(xiāo)和科研等領(lǐng)域,掌握單一AI技能即可獲得豐厚回報(bào);而在技術(shù)崗位上,企業(yè)則傾向招募具備高級(jí)機(jī)器學(xué)習(xí)知識(shí)或GenAI專(zhuān)長(zhǎng)的技術(shù)專(zhuān)家。
關(guān)鍵在于,頂尖AI崗位所需要的絕非僅是高超的技術(shù)能力。企業(yè)最看重的是復(fù)合型人才,在AI相關(guān)崗位的招聘需求中,溝通協(xié)調(diào)能力、領(lǐng)導(dǎo)能力、問(wèn)題解決能力、研究分析能力及客戶服務(wù)能力均位列十大核心能力要求之中,與之并列的還有機(jī)器學(xué)習(xí)、人工智能等技術(shù)基礎(chǔ)能力。
該研究報(bào)告指出:“雖然GenAI在寫(xiě)作和編碼等領(lǐng)域表現(xiàn)出色,但一些人類(lèi)獨(dú)有的能力,如溝通、管理、創(chuàng)新和解決復(fù)雜問(wèn)題的能力,在AI時(shí)代正展現(xiàn)出更高價(jià)值?!?/p>
贏家與輸家
技術(shù)變革對(duì)職場(chǎng)的影響日益凸顯。在自身工作內(nèi)容自動(dòng)化水平不斷提高的當(dāng)下,如果技術(shù)員工不能迅速轉(zhuǎn)型至融合商業(yè)、技術(shù)與人際溝通等技能的新興領(lǐng)域,其被取代的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)將會(huì)越來(lái)越高。與此同時(shí),數(shù)百萬(wàn)非技術(shù)崗位從業(yè)者僅需掌握基礎(chǔ)AI應(yīng)用能力,即可獲得升職、加薪的機(jī)會(huì)。如今,只有那些將AI技術(shù)同人類(lèi)判斷力、創(chuàng)造力及商業(yè)智慧相結(jié)合的組織與專(zhuān)業(yè)人士才能在競(jìng)爭(zhēng)中真正占得先機(jī)。
對(duì)企業(yè)而言,風(fēng)險(xiǎn)顯而易見(jiàn)。當(dāng)下企業(yè)若將AI視為孤立的技術(shù)門(mén)類(lèi),那么這項(xiàng)技術(shù)就會(huì)成為其競(jìng)爭(zhēng)的負(fù)擔(dān)。頭部企業(yè)都在大力投資,讓AI技術(shù)融入企業(yè)的各項(xiàng)業(yè)務(wù)之中,提升營(yíng)銷(xiāo)團(tuán)隊(duì)、人力資源部門(mén)和財(cái)務(wù)分析師的技能,進(jìn)而打造出面向未來(lái)的員工隊(duì)伍。
AI或會(huì)在硅谷董事會(huì)引發(fā)動(dòng)蕩,但其帶來(lái)的經(jīng)濟(jì)紅利正迅速流向經(jīng)濟(jì)活動(dòng)中的每一名勞動(dòng)者和每一家企業(yè)。對(duì)于能夠適應(yīng)變革的人群而言,AI技能的普及并非失業(yè)預(yù)兆,而是通往更高薪資與全新職業(yè)機(jī)遇的通行證。不過(guò),現(xiàn)有研究尚未明確揭示薪資增長(zhǎng)具體源自哪些收入階層。因此,納珀指出,這種情況可能是薪資結(jié)構(gòu)壓縮的某種表現(xiàn),即高薪技術(shù)崗位逐漸淘汰,而低薪崗位的薪酬水平獲得小幅提升。
納珀表示,過(guò)去幾年,要求具備AI技能的崗位數(shù)量呈爆炸式增長(zhǎng),且這一趨勢(shì)短期內(nèi)不會(huì)放緩,他認(rèn)為,“安于現(xiàn)狀就要付出代價(jià)”,比如薪水的大幅縮水。他補(bǔ)充說(shuō),關(guān)于前文提及的28%漲薪,Lightcast還將發(fā)布后續(xù)研究,探討這一趨勢(shì)對(duì)哪些收入階層影響最大。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:梁宇
審校:夏林
你可能已在Fortune Intelligence等處讀到過(guò)相關(guān)報(bào)道,甚至或許你或你的朋友已受到影響,AI正在深刻重塑工作模式,尤以招聘、解雇兩方面為甚。其沖擊在勞動(dòng)力市場(chǎng)體現(xiàn)得最為明顯。作為AI應(yīng)用的原爆點(diǎn),科技行業(yè)見(jiàn)證著大批員工被其參與創(chuàng)造的創(chuàng)新技術(shù)所取代。企業(yè)競(jìng)相將AI融入從云基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施到客戶支持的各個(gè)環(huán)節(jié),同時(shí)縮減軟件工程、IT支持和行政職能的人員規(guī)模。AI驅(qū)動(dòng)的自動(dòng)化浪潮不斷加快科技行業(yè)的裁員速度,有統(tǒng)計(jì)顯示,受影響員工數(shù)量已高達(dá)8萬(wàn)人。僅微軟一家公司就裁減了1.5萬(wàn)個(gè)崗位,該公司同時(shí)承諾向新AI項(xiàng)目再投入800億美元。
不過(guò)勞動(dòng)力市場(chǎng)情報(bào)公司Lightcast提供的數(shù)據(jù)為未來(lái)帶來(lái)了一線希望。那些要求具備AI技能的非技術(shù)崗位的薪資水平正在大幅飆升。Lightcast發(fā)布的新報(bào)告《超越喧囂》(Beyond the Buzz)對(duì)超過(guò)13億份招聘信息進(jìn)行了分析,結(jié)果顯示,此類(lèi)職位的薪資平均增加了28%——相當(dāng)于每年多賺近1.8萬(wàn)美元。該研究凸顯了技術(shù)與非技術(shù)領(lǐng)域招聘的分化:技術(shù)類(lèi)崗位對(duì)AI技能的需求依然強(qiáng)勁,但I(xiàn)T與計(jì)算機(jī)科學(xué)領(lǐng)域中的AI職位占比已從2019年的61%下降至2024年的49%。這表明隨著AI承擔(dān)的工作份額日益增加,傳統(tǒng)技術(shù)崗位的規(guī)模正持續(xù)萎縮。
非技術(shù)領(lǐng)域AI需求爆發(fā)式增長(zhǎng)
Lightcast的研究表明,AI非但沒(méi)有扼殺就業(yè)機(jī)會(huì),反而正在將機(jī)遇播撒到更廣泛的經(jīng)濟(jì)活動(dòng)之中。2024年要求具備AI技能的所有職位中,有超半數(shù)來(lái)自非科技行業(yè)——這與前些年AI局限于硅谷和計(jì)算機(jī)科學(xué)實(shí)驗(yàn)室的情況相比,形成了天翻地覆的變化。市場(chǎng)營(yíng)銷(xiāo)、人力資源、金融、教育、制造業(yè)和客戶服務(wù)等領(lǐng)域都在快速整合AI工具,從生成營(yíng)銷(xiāo)內(nèi)容的GenAI平臺(tái),到優(yōu)化供應(yīng)鏈與招聘流程的預(yù)測(cè)分析引擎,應(yīng)有盡有。
事實(shí)上,2022年以來(lái),在ChatGPT、Microsoft Copilot和DALL-E等工具快速普及的推動(dòng)之下,在招聘時(shí)要求具備GenAI技能的非IT、計(jì)算機(jī)科學(xué)領(lǐng)域崗位數(shù)量已暴增八倍之多。營(yíng)銷(xiāo)、設(shè)計(jì)、教育及人力資源領(lǐng)域是目前AI應(yīng)用增長(zhǎng)最快的行業(yè),都在積極適應(yīng)新的工具箱、工作流程和價(jià)值創(chuàng)造模式。
LightCast負(fù)責(zé)研究創(chuàng)新與人才洞察的副總裁科爾·納珀在接受《財(cái)富》雜志采訪時(shí)表示,盡管當(dāng)前招聘信息中對(duì)AI技能的需求激增,但受其沖擊最大的行業(yè)分布卻無(wú)顯著規(guī)律,藝術(shù)類(lèi)崗位反而排在首位,這一現(xiàn)象令他頗為訝異。
AI技能需求旺盛
對(duì)廣大勞動(dòng)者而言,掌握AI技能正成為當(dāng)今回報(bào)最高的技能投資之一。如能掌握兩項(xiàng)或更多AI技能能,薪資水平還有望進(jìn)一步提高,比招聘廣告中的薪資再高出43%。
根據(jù)Lightcast的《2025年AI指數(shù)報(bào)告》(2025 Artificial Intelligence Index Report),2024年,有超過(guò)66000個(gè)職位在招聘信息中明確要求應(yīng)聘者掌握GenAI技能,較前一年增長(zhǎng)近四倍。 需求量第二的AI技能是大語(yǔ)言模型 (Large language modeling),提及該技能的招聘信息有19500條。ChatGPT和提示詞工程兩項(xiàng)技能則分列第三、第四。
在客戶支持、銷(xiāo)售和制造等行業(yè),由于各家公司競(jìng)相推動(dòng)常規(guī)職能自動(dòng)化,力圖借助AI獲取競(jìng)爭(zhēng)優(yōu)勢(shì),所以給AI人才開(kāi)出的薪酬漲幅最大。
AI營(yíng)銷(xiāo)服務(wù)公司Thoughtlight創(chuàng)始人克里斯蒂娜·英奇在發(fā)給《財(cái)富》雜志的信息中表示,AI不僅能夠自動(dòng)處理繁瑣事務(wù),更已成為員工提升自身對(duì)公司價(jià)值的工具,其可以通過(guò)熟練掌握AI技能在職場(chǎng)中脫穎而出。她舉例說(shuō),銷(xiāo)售人員可以利用AI更有的放矢地與客戶進(jìn)行溝通,從而加快成交速度??头藛T亦是如此。
英奇強(qiáng)調(diào):“精通AI的客服人員不僅懂得如何解讀AI輸出的結(jié)果,能編寫(xiě)清晰的提示詞,還能在AI應(yīng)答偏離預(yù)設(shè)軌道時(shí),及時(shí)干預(yù)修正,解決問(wèn)題。這種能將人類(lèi)判斷力與AI技能熟練結(jié)合的人才極為稀缺,完全值得企業(yè)支付額外薪酬。”
在市場(chǎng)營(yíng)銷(xiāo)和科研等領(lǐng)域,掌握單一AI技能即可獲得豐厚回報(bào);而在技術(shù)崗位上,企業(yè)則傾向招募具備高級(jí)機(jī)器學(xué)習(xí)知識(shí)或GenAI專(zhuān)長(zhǎng)的技術(shù)專(zhuān)家。
關(guān)鍵在于,頂尖AI崗位所需要的絕非僅是高超的技術(shù)能力。企業(yè)最看重的是復(fù)合型人才,在AI相關(guān)崗位的招聘需求中,溝通協(xié)調(diào)能力、領(lǐng)導(dǎo)能力、問(wèn)題解決能力、研究分析能力及客戶服務(wù)能力均位列十大核心能力要求之中,與之并列的還有機(jī)器學(xué)習(xí)、人工智能等技術(shù)基礎(chǔ)能力。
該研究報(bào)告指出:“雖然GenAI在寫(xiě)作和編碼等領(lǐng)域表現(xiàn)出色,但一些人類(lèi)獨(dú)有的能力,如溝通、管理、創(chuàng)新和解決復(fù)雜問(wèn)題的能力,在AI時(shí)代正展現(xiàn)出更高價(jià)值?!?/p>
贏家與輸家
技術(shù)變革對(duì)職場(chǎng)的影響日益凸顯。在自身工作內(nèi)容自動(dòng)化水平不斷提高的當(dāng)下,如果技術(shù)員工不能迅速轉(zhuǎn)型至融合商業(yè)、技術(shù)與人際溝通等技能的新興領(lǐng)域,其被取代的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)將會(huì)越來(lái)越高。與此同時(shí),數(shù)百萬(wàn)非技術(shù)崗位從業(yè)者僅需掌握基礎(chǔ)AI應(yīng)用能力,即可獲得升職、加薪的機(jī)會(huì)。如今,只有那些將AI技術(shù)同人類(lèi)判斷力、創(chuàng)造力及商業(yè)智慧相結(jié)合的組織與專(zhuān)業(yè)人士才能在競(jìng)爭(zhēng)中真正占得先機(jī)。
對(duì)企業(yè)而言,風(fēng)險(xiǎn)顯而易見(jiàn)。當(dāng)下企業(yè)若將AI視為孤立的技術(shù)門(mén)類(lèi),那么這項(xiàng)技術(shù)就會(huì)成為其競(jìng)爭(zhēng)的負(fù)擔(dān)。頭部企業(yè)都在大力投資,讓AI技術(shù)融入企業(yè)的各項(xiàng)業(yè)務(wù)之中,提升營(yíng)銷(xiāo)團(tuán)隊(duì)、人力資源部門(mén)和財(cái)務(wù)分析師的技能,進(jìn)而打造出面向未來(lái)的員工隊(duì)伍。
AI或會(huì)在硅谷董事會(huì)引發(fā)動(dòng)蕩,但其帶來(lái)的經(jīng)濟(jì)紅利正迅速流向經(jīng)濟(jì)活動(dòng)中的每一名勞動(dòng)者和每一家企業(yè)。對(duì)于能夠適應(yīng)變革的人群而言,AI技能的普及并非失業(yè)預(yù)兆,而是通往更高薪資與全新職業(yè)機(jī)遇的通行證。不過(guò),現(xiàn)有研究尚未明確揭示薪資增長(zhǎng)具體源自哪些收入階層。因此,納珀指出,這種情況可能是薪資結(jié)構(gòu)壓縮的某種表現(xiàn),即高薪技術(shù)崗位逐漸淘汰,而低薪崗位的薪酬水平獲得小幅提升。
納珀表示,過(guò)去幾年,要求具備AI技能的崗位數(shù)量呈爆炸式增長(zhǎng),且這一趨勢(shì)短期內(nèi)不會(huì)放緩,他認(rèn)為,“安于現(xiàn)狀就要付出代價(jià)”,比如薪水的大幅縮水。他補(bǔ)充說(shuō),關(guān)于前文提及的28%漲薪,Lightcast還將發(fā)布后續(xù)研究,探討這一趨勢(shì)對(duì)哪些收入階層影響最大。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:梁宇
審校:夏林
You’ve read about it all over, including in Fortune Intelligence. Maybe you or friends have been impacted: artificial intelligence is already transforming work, not least hiring and firing. Nowhere is the impact more visible than in the labor market. The technology industry, the original epicenter of AI adoption, is now seeing many of its own workers displaced by the very innovations they helped create. Employers, racing to integrate AI into everything from cloud infrastructure to customer support, are trimming human headcount in software engineering, IT support, and administrative functions. The rise of AI-powered automation is accelerating layoffs in the tech sector, with impacted employees as high as 80,000 in one count. Microsoft alone is trimming 15,000 jobs while committing $80 billion to new AI investments.
But labor market intelligence firm Lightcast is offering a ray of hope going forward. Job postings for non-tech roles that require AI skills are soaring in value. Lightcast’s new “Beyond the Buzz” report, based on analysis of over 1.3 billion job postings, shows that these postings offer 28% higher salaries—an average of nearly $18,000 more per year. The Lightcast research underscores the split in tech and non-tech hiring: job postings for AI skills in tech roles remain robust, but the proportion of AI jobs within IT and computer science has fallen, dropping from 61% in 2019 to just 49% in 2024. This signals an ongoing contraction of traditional tech roles as AI claims an ever-larger share of the work.
AI demand explodes beyond tech
Rather than stifling workforce prospects, Lightcast’s research suggests that AI is dispersing opportunity across the broader economy. More than half of all jobs requesting AI skills in 2024 appeared outside the tech sector—a radical reversal from previous years, when AI was confined to Silicon Valley and computer science labs. Fields like marketing, HR, finance, education, manufacturing, and customer service are rapidly integrating AI tools, from generative AI platforms that craft marketing content to predictive analytics engines that optimize supply chains and recruitment.
In fact, job postings mentioning generative AI skills outside IT and computer science have surged an astonishing 800% since 2022, catalyzed by the proliferation of tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and DALL-E. Marketing, design, education, and HR are some of the fastest growers in AI adoption—each adapting to new toolkits, workflows, and ways of creating value.
Cole Napper, VP of research, innovation, and talent insights at Lightcast, told Fortune in an interview that he was struck by the lack of a discernible pattern for which industries were most affected by the explosion of AI skills present in job postings, noting that the arts come top of the list.
AI skills are in demand
For the workforce at large, AI proficiency is emerging as one of today’s most lucrative skill investments. Possessing two or more AI skills sends paychecks even higher, with a 43% premium on advertised salaries.
In 2024, more than 66,000 job postings specifically mentioned generative AI as a skill, a nearly fourfold increase from the prior year, according to the Lightcast’s 2025 Artificial Intelligence Index Report. Large language modeling was the second most common AI skill, which showed up in 19,500 open job posts. Postings listing ChatGPT and prompt engineering as skills ranked third and fourth in frequency, respectively.
Sectors such as customer/client support, sales, and manufacturing reported the largest pay bumps for AI-skilled workers, as companies race to automate routine functions and leverage AI for competitive advantage.
Christina Inge, founder of Thoughtlight, an AI marketing service, told Fortune in a message AI isn’t just automating busywork, it’s also becoming a tool AI-fluent workers can leverage to increase their own value to a company—and to outperform their peers. Take, for example, someone in sales using AI to create more targeted conversations to close deals faster, Inge wrote. The same can be said for customer service workers.
“[Customer service workers fluent in AI] know how to interpret AI outputs, write clear prompts, and troubleshoot when things go off script,” Inge said. “That combination of human judgment and AI fluency is hard to find and well worth the extra pay.”
In fields like marketing and science, even single AI skills can yield large returns, while more technical positions gravitate to specialists with advanced machine learning or generative AI expertise.
Crucially, the most valued AI-enabled roles demand more than just technical wizardry. Employers prize a hybrid skillset: communication, leadership, problem-solving, research, and customer service are among the 10 most-requested skills in AI-focused postings, alongside technical foundations like machine learning and artificial intelligence.
“While generative AI excels at tasks like writing and coding, uniquely human abilities—such as communication, management, innovation, and complex problem-solving—are becoming even more valuable in the AI era,” the study says.
Winners and losers
The emerging repercussions are striking. Tech workers whose roles are readily automated face rising displacement—unless they can pivot quickly into emerging areas that meld business, technical, and people skills. Meanwhile, millions of workers outside of tech are poised to translate even basic AI literacy into new roles or wage gains. The competitive edge now lies with organizations and professionals agile enough to combine AI capabilities with human judgement, creativity, and business acumen.
For companies, the risk is clear: treating AI as an isolated technical specialty is now a liability. Winning firms are investing to embed AI fluency enterprise-wide, upskilling their marketing teams, HR departments, and finance analysts to build a future-ready workforce.
AI may be the source of turmoil in Silicon Valley boardrooms, but its economic dividends are flowing rapidly to workers—and companies—in every corner of the economy. For those able to adapt, AI skills are not a harbinger of job loss, but a passport to higher salaries and new career possibilities. Still, the research doesn’t indicate exactly where in the income levels the higher postings are coming, so Napper said it’s possible that we are seeing some compression, with higher-paid tech jobs being phased out and lower-paying positions being slightly better-paying.
Napper said the trend of AI skills cropping up in job postings has exploded over the past few years, and he doesn’t expect a slowdown anytime soon. Napper said there’s a “cost to complacency”—one that includes a significant salary cut. He added that the 28% premium, Lightcast plans to release follow-up research on what level of the income latter the trend is hitting the most.