AI is being linked to a fourfold increase in productivity growth and a 56% wage premium, PwC study finds.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is making workers more valuable, productive, and able to command higher wage premiums, with job numbers rising even in roles considered most automatable, according to PwC’s 2025 Global AI Jobs Barometer.
The comprehensive report, based on analysis of close to 1bn job ads from six continents, challenges widespread concerns about AI’s impact on employment.
“AI’s rapid advance is not just reshaping industries, but fundamentally altering the workforce and the skills required”
Since the proliferation of generative AI in 2022, productivity growth has nearly quadrupled in industries most exposed to AI, rising from 7% (2018-2022) to 27% (2018-2024).
Current data shows that the most AI-exposed industries are now experiencing three times higher growth in revenue per employee than the least exposed sectors.
“The research shows that the power of AI to deliver for businesses is only at the start of the transition,” said David Lee, chief technology officer at PwC Ireland. “As we roll out agentic AI at enterprise scale, we will see how the right combination of technology and culture can create dramatic new opportunities to reimagine how organisations work and create value.”
Job growth continues despite automation concerns
Contrary to expectations of job losses, the data reveals no evidence of job or wage destruction from AI. While occupations with lower exposure to AI saw strong job growth (65%) between 2019-2024, growth remained robust even in more exposed occupations (38%).
Within more AI-exposed roles, both “automated” jobs (containing tasks AI can perform) and “augmented” jobs (where AI enhances human performance) showed growth across every industry analyzed, though augmented jobs generally grew faster.
In Ireland specifically, job numbers in AI-exposed occupations have increased by 94% since 2019, with positive growth in every occupation type. Roles enhanced by AI have seen significantly higher job growth across almost all sectors compared to automation-exposed positions.
Wage premium doubles for AI skills
The financial benefits for workers with AI skills are substantial and growing. Wages are increasing twice as fast in industries more exposed to AI versus less exposed, with increases observed in both automatable and augmentable positions.
Jobs requiring AI skills now command an average wage premium of 56% over similar roles that don’t require such skills, more than double the 25% premium observed last year. These positions continue to grow faster than overall job postings – increasing 7.5% from last year even as total job postings fell 11.3%.
“In contrast to worries that AI could cause sharp reductions in the number of jobs available, this year’s findings show jobs are growing in virtually every type of AI-exposed occupation, including highly automatable ones,” noted Laoise Mullane, Director of Workforce Consulting at PwC Ireland.
“AI is amplifying and democratizing expertise, enabling employees to multiply their impact and focus on higher-level responsibilities.”
Skills requirements evolving rapidly
While the employment and wage outlook appears positive, the research highlights accelerating changes in skill requirements. The skills sought by employers are changing 66% faster in occupations most exposed to AI, up significantly from 25% last year.
Employer demand for formal degrees is declining for all jobs but especially quickly for AI-exposed positions. The percentage of AI-augmented jobs requiring a degree fell seven percentage points between 2019 and 2024 (from 66% to 59%), and nine percentage points (from 53% to 44%) for jobs AI automates.
Gerard McDonough, Partner in Workforce Consulting at PwC Ireland, observed: “In Ireland we are also seeing the productivity prize from AI: PwC’s 2025 Irish CEO survey showed that 44% of Irish CEOs reported AI had increased efficiencies in their employees’ time at work in the last 12 months. However, to reach full potential, close attention needs to be given to skills enhancement.”
“AI’s rapid advance is not just reshaping industries, but fundamentally altering the workforce and the skills required,” McDonough added. “This is not a situation that employers can easily buy their way out of. Even if they can pay the premium required to attract talent with AI skills, those skills can quickly become out of date without investment in the systems to help the workforce learn.”
How businesses can leverage AI opportunities
The report concludes with three key recommendations for businesses looking to leverage AI opportunities:
- See AI as a tool for enterprise-wide transformation, not just personal productivity
- Treat AI as a growth strategy, not just an efficiency measure, ensuring your workforce has the skills to maximise AI’s potential
- Maintain focus on governance to build and retain the trust needed to maximise opportunities
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