Demand for AI skills has more than doubled in the past year

The share of job openings requiring AI-related skills reached a record 5.43% in Q2 2026, more than double the 2.65% recorded a year earlier. Even so, the UK has been slow to turn AI enthusiasm into widespread hiring, with many employers still cautious about adoption. But the increase in the past year, however, suggests momentum is beginning to build. If demand continues to climb at this pace, the gap between the AI skills employers need and those available in the UK workforce could widen quickly, making reskilling increasingly important for maintaining competitiveness.