U.S. firms are intensifying their recruitment of artificial intelligence experts, offering higher salaries to secure this talent. Following the pandemic’s onset, companies across various sectors, including technology, embarked on a significant hiring wave, only to later shift towards prioritizing efficiency through downsizing and other cost-reduction strategies. Despite these changes, the demand for AI-related positions remains strong, as indicated by job listing data.
AI roles, such as machine learning engineers and data scientists, were prevalent even before OpenAI’s ChatGPT was introduced. However, ChatGPT, by providing a user-friendly interface to the technology, has broadened awareness of AI’s potential applications in products and workflows amidst a cooling tech talent market that had previously seen excessive hiring.
According to the Maryland tracker, developed in collaboration with LinkUp and Outrigger Group, AI jobs are defined by the requirement for technical knowledge of AI algorithms or models, while IT roles encompass a wider range of computer- and mathematics-related positions.
Parallel trends in the AI and tech job markets are observed on Indeed, where AI-related job postings are increasing, contrasting with the overall trends in data science and software engineering roles. This divergence is evident among some of the largest U.S. companies as they reallocate resources towards artificial intelligence.
Amazon, Google’s parent company Alphabet, UPS, and Apple are among the corporations adjusting their priorities and resources in response to evolving business needs, including a stronger focus on AI and machine learning, even as they implement job cuts in other areas.
Indeed categorizes an AI role based on the inclusion of AI-related keywords in the job title, description, or company name, with the highest concentration of AI-related postings found in data or engineering sectors. Postings for positions specifically related to generative AI, like the technology underpinning ChatGPT, have surged from being virtually nonexistent pre-launch to now representing a growing segment of the job market.
The pursuit of AI expertise has led companies to offer competitive salaries. A survey by Aon among its tech clientele revealed that approximately three-quarters of companies recognize AI skills as warranting a pay premium, translating to higher starting salaries for new hires with AI expertise compared to existing staff. On platforms like ZipRecruiter, salaries for AI-related jobs are significantly higher than those for non-AI positions, sometimes by tens of thousands of dollars.