AI transforms labor market, creating winners and losers among workers
PwC, a global consulting and professional services company, said AI is transforming the global labor market into a divided system where work is increasingly split between roles that amplify human expertise and roles that are simplified by automation, according to its 2026 Global AI Jobs Barometer, Qazinform News Agency correspondent reports.
The report, based on analysis of more than one billion job advertisements across 27 countries and territories, finds that companies with the strongest exposure to AI are expanding faster and paying higher wages, while also reshaping the skills they value most.
PwC identifies two broad categories of work emerging under AI influence.
One group includes roles where AI acts as a tool that enhances specialist expertise, increasing the importance of judgement, creativity and leadership. These roles are expanding more quickly and seeing stronger salary growth.
The second group includes jobs where AI reduces the level of expertise needed, making tasks more accessible to non-specialists. Growth in these roles is slower by comparison.
According to the report, jobs in the first category are seeing roughly twice the growth in available positions and about 42% faster salary growth than roles in the second category.
Productivity gains
The gap between companies is widening. Firms operating in sectors most exposed to AI recorded productivity growth of 34% compared with 2018 levels, compared with 24% for less exposed companies.
The most striking gains are concentrated among the top-performing firms. The top 20% of AI exposed companies achieved productivity growth of 163% relative to 2018, significantly ahead of the broader group.
Employment is also rising faster in AI intensive companies. Headcount growth reached 52% compared with 36% at less exposed firms.
Strong wage premium for AI skills
The report shows continued growth in demand for AI related skills. Jobs requiring such skills grew by 69%, compared with 9% growth in the overall labor market.
At the same time, the wage premium for workers with AI skills has increased to 62%, up from 57% a year earlier. In some sectors, the premium reaches as high as 118%, while in public sector roles it is significantly lower at 16%.
Entry level jobs shifting toward senior expectations
The report highlights a major shift in early career roles. In the United States, analysis of 2.4 million entry level job postings shows that roles exposed to AI are 7 times more likely to require skills traditionally associated with senior positions, such as leadership, judgement and client facing responsibility.
Since 2019, these AI exposed entry level roles have increased by 35%, while other entry level roles declined by 10%.
Structural change in talent development
PwC executives say the findings point to a fundamental shift in how organisations develop talent.
One senior executive noted that companies achieving the strongest returns from AI are those using it to enhance human expertise rather than simply automate tasks, leading to stronger productivity and growth outcomes.
Another report author said early career pathways are being reshaped as routine training tasks shrink, forcing employers to rethink how junior staff build experience in AI driven environments.
Earlier, Qazinform News Agency reported that 85% of UAE consumers use AI to assist with shopping.
