Despite a tight job market, more than 40% of execs plan to hire for AI skills

If you've been on LinkedIn lately looking for a job and were met with the kind of silence that makes you wonder if the internet even works anymore, it's not your imagination. The job market right now is—and I'm using extremely precise economic terminology here—an absolute nightmare.

With few openings available and corporate layoffs popping up like seasonal allergies, there's no surefire way to nab a new job right now. But there is one skill you can pick up that makes you harder to ignore than your perfectly tailored cover letter: AI.

We already know AI is one of the hottest skills around right now—it's certainly in high demand at Zapier. So, we surveyed 550 company executives across industries to learn what skills they're prioritizing and what they're willing to pay for them.

The verdict? Employers are frothing at the mouth to hire people with AI skills, and they're telling us they don't plan to change their mind anytime soon.

Key findings:

• 98% of execs want workers who can use AI. They plan to hire and train employees to get there.

• 56% of execs have employees whose roles are primarily focused on AI.

• 60% of execs predict AI jobs are poised for a pay bump, some offering over 20% more for AI skills.

• 55% of execs say they're making a long-term investment in AI skills.

98% of execs want workers who can use AI, and they'll hire new faces to get them

AI already has a seat at the conference room table. Around three-quarters (76%) of executives say their companies use AI in at least some functions. Another 19% use it in limited experimentation or one-off uses, and just 4% told us their company doesn't use AI at all. 

Overall, almost all executives (98%) plan to make sure their employees or consultants have AI skills. Nearly two-thirds (65%) plan to train current employees and 44% are looking to invest in new talent. It's likely many are doing both.

But since widespread AI use is relatively new, many companies aren't ready to train their employees or hire new talent: one-third (33%) of executives expect to bring in external consultants or partners for AI skills, and 14% don't know how they'll achieve this goal.

What we know for sure: training your employees matters. In our AI workslop survey, we found that untrained workers were six times more likely to say AI makes them less productive than workers with employer-provided AI training.

56% of execs have employees whose roles are primarily focused on AI

Having AI skills is one thing, but being an AI expert is another. Today, 56% of executives say they have dedicated employees in AI-related roles. That includes roles they created from scratch or converted from existing positions. Keep in mind, we're not talking about people who use ChatGPT to brainstorm subject lines—we're talking about specialists like machine learning engineers.

Meanwhile, 24% of execs don't currently have roles focused on AI expertise, but they're looking to hire for them (or create them) soon. Only 8% of executives don't have any AI-related roles and don't plan to create any. 

It's worth noting that not all of those roles require a computer science degree. Zapier, for instance, has built out AI automation engineer roles specifically designed for non-technical employees.

Alright, so companies want workers who can use AI. Let's talk money. How much are they paying to recruit them? 

60% of execs predict AI jobs are poised for a pay bump, some offering over 20% more for AI skills 

If employers are going to recruit people with new, in-demand skills, they're going to pay them accordingly. 3 in 5 (60%) executives say AI-focused roles at their organization will earn higher pay than comparable non-AI roles (for example, an AI data analyst vs. a traditional data analyst). Nearly 1 in 4 (22%) say they'll pay a 20% premium or more for an AI position. 

So, what skills are employers specifically looking for? Most commonly, respondents told us that for AI roles, they're looking for people who are knowledgeable in:

• Generative AI usage and prompt engineering: 67%

• Data management, processing, and analysis: 60%

• Soft skills, like communication, creativity, and problem solving: 47%

• AI deployment and DevOps: 46%

• Project management: 42%

Notice something? Three of those top five skills—data management and analysis, soft skills, and project management—aren't necessarily AI-exclusive. Knowing your way around a generative AI tool or having a knack for DevOps isn't a surefire way to snag an AI position. You still need a solid foundation outside the shiny tech. 

55% of execs say they're making a long-term investment in AI skills

With these companies ramping up hiring, a lot of executives told us they're putting their money where their mouth is. More than half (55%) say they're making a long-term commitment to ongoing hiring and training for AI talent and skills.

In fact, 38% of executives say they had more than 100 employees in AI roles last year. Now, that number has jumped to 52%. 

Another 20% of executives say AI is a short-term focus, meaning they may just need an AI expert for a specific project. And 14% are undecided—they're still exploring how (and how much) to invest in AI talent and skills.    

At this point, it seems like most major employers have leapt Scrooge McDuck-style into AI investment. There's been some reasonable fears that this is all a bubble that can burst any time now, but these execs don't seem to think so—they're continuing to invest in AI skills and talent. 

Smooth your AI workflow with Zapier

The throughline in all this data is clear: while the broader job market may feel stalled, AI isn't a side project—it's the strategy. Executives are hiring for it, paying premiums for it, and committing to it for the long haul. That means the professionals who invest in building practical AI skills—grounded in data fluency, strong communication, and real-world application—won't just weather a tough market; they'll stand out in it. As companies double down on AI to drive efficiency and growth, the opportunity belongs to the people ready to turn that investment into impact.

Whether you're an AI expert or a total newbie, Zapier integrates AI into the work you're already doing. With connections to over 8,000 apps, it's the AI orchestration layer that connects your tools and supports them with the power of AI.

Related reading:

• What is enterprise AI? And how to implement it

• AIOps: What is it & how can you use it?

• AI in engineering: Transforming the way we work

• 81 AI statistics

• 78% of enterprises are struggling to integrate AI