Employers are willing to pay an average of 47% more for IT workers with AI skills, according to research by Amazon. Employers are also willing to pay premiums for workers outside of IT who have AI skills. The average increases run from 43% for those in sales and marketing roles to 35% for those in human resources.
And workers are interested in learning AI skills, according to Amazon. More than 80% of workers say they are interested in developing AI skills to advance their careers, Amazon’s research found. This includes two-thirds of workers over the age of 55 that reported they would enroll in AI upskilling if employers offer it.
For its research, Amazon surveyed 3,297 employees and 1,340 organizations across the US. It announced the findings along with the launch of a new program to provide free AI skills training to 2 million people globally by 2025.
Amazon’s research also found both employers and workers believe they will be using AI in the future.
Nearly all of employers, 92%, predict they will use AI-related solutions in their organizations by 2028. What they see AI as doing includes:
- Automating employee tasks, 64%
- Improving workflows and outcomes, 58%
- Enhancing communications, 54%
- Helping employees learn new skills, 50%
Workers themselves expect to use generative AI in the coming years, with 86% of employees expecting to do so.