PwC Barometer: AI-skilled workers command 56% wage premium

🎯 Impact Sentiment: Positive

📋 Summary

• Workers with AI skills are earning a 56% pay premium over peers in the same roles—more than double last year’s premium.
• Industries adopting AI are seeing revenue per worker grow three times faster than those less exposed to AI.
• The skills employers want for AI-exposed jobs are changing 66% faster than other roles, pushing upskilling to the forefront.
• Wage growth and demand is rising across both highly automatable jobs and expert roles, with every sector— from mining to finance—showing a surge in AI deployment.

💡 JR Insights

• 💼 Implication: If you can show real AI skills on your CV, you’re far more valuable in the job market. Investing time into learning prompt engineering, AI tools, or automation is no longer optional—it’s how you stay ahead and unlock higher pay.
• 🚨 Risk: Skills are shifting rapidly, so standing still is risky—what worked last year may be outdated quickly. If you’re not building AI expertise, you risk flat wages or finding your role less relevant, even in jobs once thought “safe”.
• ✨ Takeaway: Upskill in AI now. The wage premium and broad industry demand make it clear: adding AI skills to your toolbox isn’t just protection against job loss—it’s one of the fastest paths to career growth and higher pay.