Demand for AI workers has risen sharply across all sectors in the UK, according to research from PwC, which tracked the transformation of the UK labour market as a result of AI.

Interest for specialised AI-skilled workers bounced back in 2025, reaching levels not seen since 2022, signalling renewed growth in the UK, enabled through AI.

Research, however, also shows that human skills continue to be important, even to AI-exposed firms. Junior AI-assisted roles are now seven times more likley to require human-intensive skills, like leadership and face-to-face interactions.

PwC describes the current AI-impacted job market as “two-track” — dependent on if AI is automating more or less expert tasks as AI adoption and deployment continues.

The research shows 39% growth for roles where AI is removing routine tasks allowing workers to focus on higher-value tasks, compared to a 17% increase in roles where AI is simplifying tasks.

The level of a firm’s AI adoption is positively influencing the level of labour productivity growth – the top 20% of global firms integrating AI at scale are seeing a labour productivity growth rate of 163%, about five times higher than most other AI-exposed firms.

“After a period of slower growth, this increased demand for AI skills is encouraging and, whilst still a relatively low proportion of the job market, it signals a step change in how organisations are adopting AI,” Claire Reid, chief technology and innovation officer at PwC UK, said.

“The experimentation phase is over and businesses want to scale and embed the technology properly. This requires specialists who understand the art of the possible, where AI can create value in different situations, and help others do the same. There’s a difference between building an AI-literate workforce and expecting everyone to become an AI specialist overnight.”

Overall, the research found a positive correlation (0.33) between a firm’s exposure to AI and shifts in skills requirements.

In the UK, the share of jobs requiring AI skills reached 2.2% last year.

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According to the firm’s AI Jobs Barometer, AI-exposed organisations have growth headcount rather than reduced it. AI companies most exposed to AI across the world seaw their headcount increase 52% compared to 2018, compared to 36% among companies with less AI integration.

AI-skilled workers are also experiencing a premium in their wage, seeing it rise 34.2% in 2025, up from 11% in 2024.

Pete Brown, global workforce leader, PwC, said: “The traditional relationship between experience and expertise is changing.

“AI is removing some of the routine work that once acted as an apprenticeship, while increasing demand for judgement, leadership and adaptability much earlier in careers.

“Organisations need to rethink how they develop talent if they want people to thrive in this new environment.”