Demand for AI professionals in the UK is skyrocketing in 2025 across sectors and experience levels:
Demand & Job Growth
- AI-related job postings are growing 3.6× faster than overall UK job openings, with a reported 35% year on year increase in dedicated AI roles
- A 21% surge in tech vacancies was driven by AI demand alone
- AI skills are now required in approximately 28% of all IT job listings, and 97% of the highest paying IT positions demand AI expertise
Salary Premiums
- UK employers are offering around +14% wage premiums for AI skilled hires, rising to +27% in legal or +58% for database professionals.
- More recent data shows AI professionals earn ~21% more than peers, with some roles commanding up to 58% salary boosts, and senior AI/ML engineers can earn up to £110k.
In-Demand Roles & Skills
Top AI specializations currently sought include:
- Machine Learning Engineers (+70 75% YoY)
- AI/ML Specialists (≈37% annual growth)
- AI focused Data Scientists (senior pay up to £110k)
- Computer Vision Engineers (+40% YoY)
- NLP Specialists (£80 100k)
- Generative AI Engineers
- AI Ethics/Governance
- AI in Healthcare
- Edge AI Developers
- AI Systems Integration Specialists
Plus, employers list Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, cloud platforms, LLM prompt engineering, deep learning as must-have skills
Regional Hotspots
AI job hubs and growth rates
- London: ~36,700 roles; ~65–80% of national AI demand.
- Cambridge/Oxford: Rapid growth, with 5.5k and 2.3k roles.
- Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol: Strong annual growth (20–25%).
- Other emerging hotspots: Glasgow (+150%), Liverpool (+125%), Leeds (+83%)
Hiring Trends & Skills Over Degrees
- Employers are embracing skill-based hiring, with advanced degree requirements for AI roles dropping ~15% since 2018 while emphasising specific capabilities
This opens doors to bootcamps, micro credentials, and self-taught routes, alongside traditional degrees
Sector Demand & Compensation
- Financial institutions (hedge funds included) are offering $200–400k packages to top-tier AI talent
- Consulting, particularly advisory services, is seeing renewed hiring momentum, with AI expertise driving demand
- Other sectors aggressively adopting AI: finance (75% adoption), IT, legal services, manufacturing, healthcare