Irish Job Ads Requiring AI Skills Jumped 60% to 3.7% in 2023

The share of Irish job ads requiring artificial intelligence (AI) skills increased by almost two-thirds last year, reaching 3.7 per cent of postings, according to PwC. The PwC 2026 AI Jobs Barometer report indicates that jobs demanding specific AI skills have grown over five times faster since 2019 than the overall job market, which expanded by 16 per cent. In 2024, 2.3 per cent of postings mentioned AI skills.

These findings are part of an international study by PwC, analyzing job postings from various online sources. In Ireland, roles with AI-related skills often correlate with higher advertised salaries, especially in AI-exposed sectors like technology and financial services. AI skills are seen as key enablers, enhancing productivity and complementing other high-value expertise.

Laoise Mullane, director at PwC Ireland, noted that organizations achieving the strongest returns use AI to amplify human expertise and accelerate innovation. This leads to improved productivity and overall business performance. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned last month that 40 per cent of Irish jobs could be affected by AI, either through complementation or replacement. The IMF also stated that Ireland is «relatively more exposed» to new economic risks posed by AI to employment and financial markets. While AI can bring productivity gains, realizing these requires continuous reskilling and upskilling of the workforce.