AI Skills Demand In $100,000+ Jobs To Spike 50% By 2028, CEO Says
Ladders—the high-paying job board specialising in roles above $100,000—recently analysed more than two million job postings. Their findings? Mentions of AI skills in job descriptions have skyrocketed nearly sevenfold in just one year, jumping from 0.87% in 2024 to 5.7% in 2025.
That’s not a trend. That’s a workplace transformation happening in real time.
Marc Cenedella, CEO of Ladders, has been hearing directly from employers about how quickly their hiring priorities are shifting. He shared a striking observation:
“If a role can be done remotely, it can probably be augmented by AI, and we're watching this transformation happen in real-time across every white-collar function—from program management to financial analysis. Companies are racing to integrate AI capabilities, so job seekers need to treat learning AI as a second full-time job if they want to stay competitive.”
Even more eye-opening? Based on the current pace of adoption, Cenedella predicts that by 2027–2028, half of all high-paying white-collar roles will require some level of AI competency.
So what does that mean for you?
What This Shift Means for Your Career
The speed of change is pushing workers into an uncomfortable but unavoidable crossroads:
You either upskill, or you fall behind—quickly.
Employers are pouring resources into digital transformation and AI-driven change management. If you stagnate, you weaken your position in your current company and become less competitive in the job market. Some firms are already making tough decisions—Accenture, for example, has stated clearly that employees who don’t adapt will be left behind.
For job seekers, this adds a new layer to the hiring process. Whether you’re actively searching or simply keeping an eye on the market, you now need to demonstrate AI literacy that aligns with your industry’s evolving expectations.
The AI Skills You Actually Need (By Role)
Your required AI skills will depend heavily on your job function, career stage, and industry. Here’s how it breaks down:
Marketing Roles (e.g., Digital Marketing Campaign Manager)
Candidates are now expected to understand and use AI-enhanced marketing tools such as:
-
Klaviyo AI
-
HubSpot AI features
-
SEMrush AI
-
Canva’s AI design suite
-
Jasper AI
-
Zapier automations
-
Marketing-focused AI agents for content creation, analytics, and reporting
C-Level Executives (e.g., COO)
The focus shifts from tools to enterprise-level AI leadership:
-
AI strategy and roadmap creation
-
AI change management
-
AI-driven workflow design
-
AI ethics, risk management, and compliance
Product Managers
Product teams are increasingly evaluated on their ability to build AI-infused experiences:
-
Vibe coding
-
AI workflow design
-
AI agents and agentic product thinking
Technical Roles (Software Engineering, Data, ML, etc.)
Technical contributors need deeper AI and systems knowledge, including:
-
Python
-
Machine learning fundamentals
-
NLP and computer vision
-
Cloud computing and scalable AI infrastructure
The Foundational AI Skills Everyone Needs
Regardless of industry or role, there are core AI skills that will soon be as essential as email or Excel:
-
Generative AI fluency
-
Prompt engineering
-
AI ethics and responsible use
-
Judgment around when to use AI—and when not to
These skills form the baseline for navigating the modern workplace.
AI isn’t “coming.” It’s here, and it’s reshaping high-paying careers faster than any previous technology wave. Whether you’re climbing the ladder, leading a team, or exploring new roles, upskilling in AI is no longer optional—it’s the new competitive advantage.
If you embrace it now, you stay ahead.
If you wait, the gap only widens.