Since late 2022, AI-related job postings have increased by 68%, while overall tech job postings have fallen by 17% and general IT roles have declined by 27%.
Businesses are cutting traditional tech roles and prioritising AI talent.
Which industries are leading?
According to the latest CompTIA and UMD-LinkUp reports, five sectors account for 89% of AI job postings:
Professional & Technical Services (25%) - AI consulting, automation, and advanced analytics
Information (24%) - AI-driven content, cybersecurity, and software development
Manufacturing (16%) - Process automation, predictive maintenance, and quality control
Finance & Insurance (14%) - Risk modelling, fraud detection, and personalisation
Retail (9%) - Supply chain optimisation, customer insights, and AI-powered e-commerce
What does this mean for businesses?
Businesses need to:
Assess AI readiness - Identify where AI can improve efficiency or create new opportunities.
Build internal AI capabilities - Upskill employees and hire strategically instead of relying solely on outsourcing.
Rethink hiring criteria - Many AI-related roles don't require a four-year degree. Expanding recruitment pipelines can help bring in fresh talent.
Prioritise AI in decision-making - AI is affecting every sector.
The bigger picture
Open-source AI models are accelerating this shift. AI tools are more accessible than ever.
How is your business preparing for AI adoption? Let's discuss.
Sources:
- CompTIA Tech Jobs Report, February 2025 release, monthly #JobsReport trending
- University of Maryland-LinkUp AI Maps Project, "Diffusion of AI Jobs Across Economic Sectors: Analysis of Job Postings in the U.S. Economy 2018-Q1 through 2024-Q4", White Paper #2, January 2025, www.aimaps.ai