OECD – Emerging Trends in AI Skill Demand

The OECD has conducted research on the demand for artificial intelligence (AI) skills across 14 countries. The study uses data from online job postings and focuses on the human element behind the advancements in AI. The results show that AI-related job vacancies make up a small proportion of all vacancies, with the highest share in the United States at 0.84% in 2022. However, the share of AI-related vacancies has grown significantly in most countries between 2019 and 2022, increasing by an average of 33%. The demand for AI-related jobs is concentrated in industries such as ICT and Professional Services, with some variation across countries. In terms of occupations, the majority of AI job postings aim to hire Professionals, followed by Managers and Technicians/Associate Professionals. Machine Learning skills are particularly in demand, with between 29% and 39% of AI job postings requiring these skills across all countries. Skills related to Autonomous Driving and Robotics are less in demand and show variation across countries. The study also examines the top AI employers in the United States and their skill requirements. These employers are mainly in Information, Professional Services, Finance and Insurance, and Manufacturing industries. They seek Software Developers, Data Analysts/Mathematicians, and Network Engineers, with a slightly higher demand for leadership, management, innovation, and problem-solving skills compared to other AI employers. Overall, the research aims to inform policies and interventions to foster the diffusion of AI across the economy and ensure an inclusive and human-centric digital transformation in the age of AI.