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.
The UK labor market has officially split in two. AI mentions in job postings grew from 2% in 2023 to 9.4% by June 2026 — a fivefold increase — and in data analytics and software development, roughly half of all roles now require AI skills. Meanwhile, total job postings fell 11% from the start of 2026 and sit 32% below pre-pandemic levels.
The split is playing out within individual professions: in marketing, the AI job index hit 341 while the overall index collapsed to 52. The same pattern is visible in HR, accounting, and project management — AI specialists are scarce while everyone else faces a demand collapse. This is the first major labor market where the fracture has become statistically undeniable.
Source: the-decoder.com
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Author
Evgenii Arsentev
PhD · Chief Executive Officer, digital health
Articles · Latest articles