AI driving 'two-track' labour market

AI hiring in Ireland almost doubled between 2024 and 2025, says report

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Jobs requiring AI skills are growing over five times (83%) faster since 2019 than the total jobs market (16%), according to PwC’s 2026 AI Jobs Barometer published on Monday. 

The report which analysed more than one billion job ads across six continents, including Ireland. It found that AI is driving a ‘two-track’ global labour market with ‘professionalised’ roles - in which AI automates routine tasks, placing emphasis on human judgement and expertise - are growing faster than roles ‘democratised’ by AI – in which AI makes the role itself easier for non-experts to perform. 

AI hiring in Ireland almost doubled between 2024 and 2025, the report said, indicating increased AI adoption in the workforce. As a result, the share of job postings requiring AI related skills reached 3.7% in 2025, up from around 2.3% in 2024. 

“Across the global economy, we’re starting to see a clearer divergence in how organisations are using AI to create value. Those seeing the strongest returns are using AI to amplify human expertise, accelerate innovation and unlock new sources of growth," said PwC Ireland Workforce Consulting and AI Adoption Lead director Laoise Mullane. 

The research also shows that in Ireland, roles which include AI-related skills tend to be associated with higher advertised salaries, particularly in more AI-exposed industries such as technology and financial services. 

PwC Ireland partner Ger McDonough said there is a shift in how experience and expertise play out in the workplace. "In some areas, AI is taking on routine tasks and raising the bar on the skills people need, placing more emphasis on judgement, adaptability and leadership. In others, it is making certain tasks more accessible, broadening who can perform them. For organisations, it means taking a more deliberate approach to how talent is developed, ensuring people build the capabilities they need to thrive in this new working environment."