AI Drives Tech Layoffs While Salaries Surge in Non-Tech Sectors
The tech industry faces significant layoffs due to AI automation, while salaries for AI-skilled jobs rise dramatically in non-tech sectors.
Key Points
- • Up to 80,000 jobs lost in tech due to AI automation.
- • Non-tech roles requiring AI skills see an average salary increase of $18,000.
- • Job postings requiring multiple AI skills can offer a 43% salary premium.
- • AI skills have surged by 800% since 2022, transforming numerous sectors beyond tech.
The evolving landscape of employment in 2025 reveals a stark contrast driven by artificial intelligence (AI), particularly marked by mass layoffs in the tech sector juxtaposed with significant job growth and salary increases in various other fields. A recent report by labor market intelligence firm Lightcast estimates that up to 80,000 jobs may be lost in tech due to AI-induced automation, with major companies like Microsoft planning to cut 15,000 positions while simultaneously investing $80 billion into AI initiatives.
Despite these cuts within tech, the opposite trend is observed in non-tech sectors where demand for AI skills is surging. According to Lightcast, job postings requiring AI competencies have skyrocketed, showing an 800% increase since 2022. Average salaries for these roles are up by $18,000, or 28%, indicating that employers are willing to pay a premium for AI proficiency. Notably, positions across marketing, human resources, finance, and manufacturing are leading this surge, with companies actively seeking candidates fluent in AI technologies, like generative AI tools.
In 2024 alone, there were over 66,000 job postings listing generative AI as a necessary skill, quadrupling from the previous year. The report highlights that roles requiring multiple AI skills can command a salary premium of up to 43%. This trend showcases not only the rapid evolution of job requirements but also emphasizes the emergence of AI as a critical component across diverse industries.
Experts suggest that the most sought-after positions integrating AI will demand a unique mix of both technical and soft skills, such as communication and problem-solving. As AI continues automating routine tasks, personnel skilled in interpreting AI outputs and effectively utilizing them within business contexts will be immensely valuable. Businesses failing to adapt to the AI landscape may risk obsolescence, while those embracing the technology could reap significant economic benefits. Lightcast plans to publish further data to better quantify the impacts and salary trends associated with these expanding job roles in the near future.