With AI poised to dominate news cycles in 2025, its impact on the HR industry is evident.
Companies are racing to fill AI-related positions, as evidenced by the staggering 1,300% increase in generative AI roles over the past two years. Demand for machine learning (up 80%) and data science roles (up 250%) has also surged, reshaping hiring trends across industries.
Adding to the urgency, over 60% of business leaders admit they would not consider hiring a candidate who lacks AI skills. Amid these shifts, one pressing question arises: what will job profiles look like in the near future?
The surging demand for AI-skills
The advancement of generative AI and machine learning has created entirely new career options, with roles like AI prompt engineers, specialists who design precise prompts to optimize AI responses, now earning six-figure salaries. The pivotal role these positions play in enhancing AI functionality is showcased by the tenfold increase in job listings for this role over the past year.
However, the need for AI expertise has expanded beyond specialized roles, driving demand for these skills across a broader spectrum of jobs. In 2022, only 9% of jobs listed on Arc.dev’s platform required AI skills. By 2024, that figure had risen to 21%, reflecting a 130% growth. The demand for professionals skilled in marketing and selling AI solutions is also rising, as demonstrated by Salesforce's decision to hire 2,000 more salespeople with expertise in artificial intelligence to address clients' growing needs.
Moreover, this trend is especially noticeable in industries like finance, where banks increasingly invest in AI talent, with a 17% year-on-year growth in AI employees. In addition to ramping up efforts to manage AI model risks, leading banks are concentrating on operationalizing AI capabilities, ensuring compliance, and onboarding implementation talent to deploy AI projects into production.
This spike, however, highlights a more significant issue: the difficulty in employing experts who possess the proper balance of technical know-how and creative problem-solving skills. Companies are having trouble competing for individuals who can effectively develop and implement AI solutions while also addressing the particular difficulties associated with scaling AI.
How can companies get ahead in hiring AI talent?
The competition for AI talent extends beyond the corporate world and has become a geopolitical race. China reigns as the dominant force in AI talent, producing nearly half of the global workforce, while the U.S. accounts for just 18%. This disparity has fueled intense competition for skilled AI professionals, making it harder for companies to secure top talent.
This is why mobility is key to securing AI expertise. After all, roughly 11 out of every 100 AI experts relocate internationally every five years, a rate 80% higher than other skilled professionals. This high mobility means that companies need to look beyond their traditional talent pools to secure the best AI experts as it's no longer enough to focus solely on local hiring or traditional tech hubs. For example, although India continues to be a major hub for tech talent, emerging markets such as the Philippines and Pakistan are increasingly being recognized across the Asia-Pacific region. Companies can access international talent pools by simplifying hiring and compliance, using tools like Employer of Record (EOR) to integrate global talent into their teams and bridge the talent gap.
This flexibility helps companies secure talent amid changing market demands; combining freelancers and full-time employees from around the world can also help them in this shift toward dynamic talent acquisition strategies. The rise of freelance contracts for specialized talent reflects the growing demand for a flexible, responsive workforce. For example, freelance contracts now make up more than 30% of tech hires through Multiplier, highlighting an increasing demand for workforce flexibility. By combining full-time employees with freelancers, companies can scale their teams quickly to meet both internal needs and external market changes. Besides, freelancers often bring diverse industry experience, working across various projects, which helps provide new ideas and approaches that can accelerate AI development.
However, attracting top-tier AI talent requires more than just a broad search—it also demands competitive compensation and benefits. In fact, AI-related roles now offer salaries that exceed those in other fields by more than 77%, according to a Biz Report survey. To attract and retain talent, companies are offering more than just higher salaries, with flexible work options and tailored career growth opportunities becoming common perks. Additionally, organizations are investing in targeted learning programs to keep employees up to date with industry advancements.
Adapting to the future of AI talent recruitment
As demand for AI talent continues to rise, companies must rethink their approach to recruitment and talent retention. The future of AI talent acquisition will be defined by flexibility—both in how organizations source talent and in the compensation packages they offer. In the end, the organizations that can adapt to the new demands will be best equipped to meet the evolving challenges of AI development.
