UK Job Market Fractures: AI Roles Surge as Overall Postings Drop 32%
Indeed recorded a fivefold rise in AI-related job postings in the UK while the overall market fell 32% below pre-pandemic levels. In data analytics and software development, nearly half of all roles now require AI skills — while marketing and HR are cratering.
In the UK, the jobs market has bifurcated. Between 2023 and June 2026, AI mentions in job ads went up five times, from 2% to 9.4%. In data science and software engineering, about half of jobs require some sort of AI expertise. Total job ad volume declined by 11% since the beginning of 2026 and is down 32% compared to before the pandemic.
This bifurcation is happening across specific occupations. For example, the AI job index for marketing stands at 341, whereas the general job index is only 52. Similar trends can be seen in other fields such as human resources, accounting, and project management. There’s a shortage of AI talent but also a glut of non-AI workers. It’s the first large jobs market to show clear signs of bifurcation.
Source: the-decoder.com
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Author
Evgenii Arsentev
PhD · Founder & CEO, Dad4Kids
Articles · Latest articles