AI is creating a two-track labour market for professional talent

The analysis of over one billion job advertisements reveals a fundamental shift toward a two-track labour market. On one path, roles are being 'professionalised,' where AI handles routine tasks, leaving experts to focus on judgment, creativity, and leadership. These positions are seeing double the growth in availability and 42% higher salary increases compared to 'democratised' roles, where AI makes tasks easier for non-experts to perform.

This shift is particularly evident at the entry level. In the United States, junior roles exposed to AI are seven times more likely to demand senior-level skills, such as leadership and complex decision-making. While general entry-level opportunities have declined by 10% since 2019, these 'seniorised' junior roles have surged by 35%. This trend suggests that the traditional apprenticeship model of gaining experience through routine work is disappearing.

Productivity gains are also widening the gap between firms. The most AI-exposed 'super-star' companies achieved a 163% increase in labour productivity relative to 2018 levels. These organizations are also expanding their workforces more aggressively than less tech-forward rivals, reporting 52% headcount growth compared to 36%. As demand for AI proficiency rises, the wage premium for workers possessing specialized technical skills has climbed to 62%, with some sectors seeing premiums as high as 118%.