The evolution of the generative AI job market is accelerating, moving from experimental implementations to mainstream business adoption and growing faster as it goes beyond tech and spreads across the labor market. Our latest workforce intelligence data reveals four key trends shaping how organizations are integrating AI skills into their workforce strategies.
Sustained Growth in AI Skill Demand
Unique job postings for generative AI skills have grown from 55 in January 2021 to nearly 10,000 by May 2025. The most notable acceleration began in early 2023, coinciding with the widespread adoption of tools like ChatGPT, and has continued through the present. Perhaps the clearest sign of Generative AI’s staying power as a skill is the rise in an associated occupation: “Generative Artificial Intelligence Engineer,” an occupation that has seen a steady increase in postings throughout 2024 and 2025.
In our latest AI research, Beyond The Buzz, this is one of the most significant trends shaping how AI is being integrated across the labor market. Instead of looking at “Generative AI” as a specific skill in that research, we looked at job postings requiring any skill in the generative AI skill cluster. (Lightcast has created a list of over 350 AI skills, divided into nine clusters, which we use to identify AI trends overall and also identify which jobs are AI jobs. Read more about the AI Lightcast Sector.)
Using that definition, job postings requiring generative AI skills in non-IT roles are up 9x from 2022 to 2024, job postings for Generative AI Engineers are up 7x, and job postings requiring generative AI skills in other IT roles are up 35x.
Roles Expand Beyond Traditional Tech
While Data Scientists (3,301 unique postings) and Machine Learning Engineers (2,951 unique postings) lead demand, the range of roles now requiring Generative AI skills has broadened considerably. Solutions Architects, Product Managers, and Enterprise Architects represent significant portions of the market, demonstrating that organizations are embedding AI capabilities across business functions, not just within specialized technical teams.
This is consistent with other observations of AI’s growth: another finding in Beyond The Buzz is that 51% of AI job postings are for jobs outside of the IT and Computer Science career area. In 2019, 61% of AI postings were for tech roles, so this marks a consistent downward trend over the past several years.
Enterprise Leaders Drive Adoption
The companies with the highest volume of generative AI job postings include Amazon, Accenture, Deloitte, Meta, KPMG, Google, PwC, Cognizant, Capital One, and Apple. This mix spans technology companies, consulting firms, and financial services, indicating cross-industry adoption. The prominence of consulting firms suggests they're positioning as AI transformation partners, which will likely accelerate adoption across their client bases.
Security and Business Skills Complement Technical Expertise
Required qualifications extend well beyond technical AI knowledge. Security clearances (Top Secret, SCI) and compliance certifications appear frequently, alongside business credentials like MBAs and PMP certifications. Cloud platform certifications from AWS and Microsoft are also common. This combination indicates employers seek professionals who can navigate complex regulatory environments and lead AI implementations across business contexts.
Key Takeaways
The data shows generative AI skills transitioning from specialized technical requirements to broader business capabilities. Organizations are building AI competencies across multiple functions while emphasizing security, compliance, and business leadership alongside technical expertise. This evolution suggests sustainable demand for AI-skilled professionals who can combine technical knowledge with domain expertise and business acumen.
Learn how Lightcast workforce intelligence can inform your AI talent strategy. Contact us for more insights, or read the Beyond The Buzz report now to cut through the noise and build your AI strategy on reliable data, not speculation and hype.
