Clear link emerging between AI and productivity

Jobs are also growing even in the most easily automated roles, PwC survey finds

- 

Artificial intelligence is making workers more valuable, productive and able to command higher wage premiums, with job numbers rising even in roles considered most automatable, according to the 2025 Global Al Jobs Barometer compiled by PwC.

Based on analysis of close to a billion job advertisements from six continents, the report finds that since the proliferation of Generative AI (GenAI) began in 2022, productivity growth has nearly quadrupled in industries most exposed to AI (financial services, software publishing), rising from 7% from 2018-22 to 27% from 2018-24.

In contrast, productivity growth in industries least exposed to AI (mining, hospitality) declined from 10% to 9% over the same period.

Data for 2024 shows that the most AI-exposed industries are now seeing three-times higher growth in revenue per employee than their least exposed counterparts.

"This research shows that the power of AI to deliver for businesses is already being realised. And we are only at the start of the transition," said Carol Stubbings, global chief commercial officer of PwC.

"As we roll out agentic AI at enterprise scale, we are seeing that the right combination of technology and culture can create dramatic new opportunities to reimagine how organisations work and create value."

Contrary to some expectations, the data from the report does not show job or wage destruction from AI.