AI Is Reshaping the Global Job Market, Creating a “Dual-Track” Divide, PwC Report Finds
The rapid rise of artificial intelligence is fundamentally transforming the skills employers demand, creating what a new report from global consultancy PwC calls a “dual-track job market.” The findings, published in PwC’s “Global AI Jobs Barometer,” are based on an analysis of more than one billion job advertisements across six continents.
Two Distinct Career Paths Emerge
The report identifies two primary categories of roles shaped by AI. The first consists of “professional” positions—such as radiologists and recruiters—where AI automates routine tasks, allowing human expertise and judgment to take center stage. The second category includes “democratized” roles—such as IT service managers or medical secretaries—where AI tools make complex tasks more accessible to non-experts.
The data reveals a significant disparity between these two tracks. Professional roles saw twice as much growth in job availability compared to democratized roles. Additionally, salaries in professional positions grew 42 percent faster than those in the second category.
Empowering Human Expertise Over Pure Automation
Joe Atkinson, PwC’s global chief AI officer, emphasized that organizations achieving the greatest returns from AI are those using it to enhance human capabilities rather than simply replace them. “Across the global economy, a new divide is beginning to emerge between different talent and value creation models,” he stated. “The companies that are seeing the greatest returns from AI are using it to empower human expertise, accelerate innovation, and create entirely new sources of value.”
Impact on Entry-Level Workers
The AI boom is also reshaping expectations for young professionals entering the workforce. Analysis of U.S. data shows that entry-level positions considered at risk from AI are seven times more likely to assign junior employees higher-level responsibilities involving leadership, creativity, or personal interactions.
Uncertainty and Sector-Specific Variations
However, experts caution against oversimplifying AI’s impact on employment. Avi Goldfarb, a professor at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, noted that AI’s effects vary significantly depending on context. In some cases, such as call centers, AI tools may assist lower-skilled workers by suggesting appropriate responses. In other fields, like scientific research, more experienced professionals appear to benefit more from AI integration.
Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem echoed similar concerns in February, warning that while demand for AI-skilled workers is increasing, “the flip side is that we may be starting to see signs of AI reducing the number of entry-level jobs in some occupations.”
Preparing for an AI-Driven Future
Despite uncertainties, experts offer practical advice for young people preparing to enter the job market. Goldfarb recommends four key strategies: mastering foundational knowledge in one’s field, acquiring basic AI skills, developing strong social and communication abilities, and cultivating professional judgment—the capacity to understand organizational priorities and assess risks.
“Labor market skills in 2031 will be different from the skills that will enable people to succeed in the labor market in 2026,” Goldfarb noted. “Exactly what training will be required for those skills is still an open question, but that doesn’t mean young people can’t prepare.”
