Interest in AI Jobs Has Seen a Spike Amid COVID-19

Interest in AI Jobs Has Seen a Spike Amid COVID-19

Artificial intelligence (AI) jobs have seen a staggering growth of 106 per cent between June 2019 and June 2020, reveals Indeed. Interest in AI jobs seen a spike amid COVID-19

The report also mentions there has been a 20 per cent rise in job search related to AI and machine learning within the past six months (March 2020 – July 2020). Not to mention, this was the period when the pandemic struck the world leaving all of us flabbergasted.

Besides job searches, many people worldwide lost their jobs, furloughs, and salary cuts were hitting the headlines like crazy. However, the AI industry has been lucky to experience a steady increase in job searches within the last five years. Therefore, if taking up an AI career is in your career plan, you better not wait, go right for it.

Amongst the topmost skills in the related AI job searches, Python and Natural Language Processing (NLP) topped the highest in the ranking. Interest in AI jobs has seen a spike amid COVID-19.

Artificial intelligence job searches amid the pandemic

The world has faced unprecedented challenges due to the pandemic thus disrupting many careers. While the world struggles to get things back to normal, technology professionals with skills in AI and machine learning seem to have a steady job. Not many professionals from the technology field had to undergo a wave of layoffs, furloughs, or unemployment. Thanks to the ever-evolving growth technology.

In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, employment in the AI field increased as schools, businesses and health-care providers looked forward to adopting AI and analytics to their businesses. As job opportunities in the field seem to have a steady upsurge, it is imperative for technology professionals to keep up with emerging demands.

One of the major reasons why we need professionals who are highly skilled in AI and machine learning. Let us have a better look at the statistics during the pandemic.

• From June 2016 to June 2017 – 53 %
• June 2017 to June 2018 – 82 %
• Of June 2018 to June 2019 – 80 %
• And June 2019 to June 2020 – 106 %

As we can see, the percentage change in the AI job rise has drastically increased and not declined. Even so, there was a 17% rise in job postings within the last six months (March 2020 to July 2020). Having said that every technology professional now looks forward to becoming an AI engineer. So to speak, the demand for AI and machine learning jobs is bound to grow at a rapid pace.

As mentioned above, some of the crucial skills potential employers seek from their candidates include Tensor Flow, Natural Language Processing (NLP), and Python.

Companies Wanting to hire Skilled AI professionals

With companies extensively looking to hire professionals within the technology industry and beyond, skills like AI and machine learning were found significant. As a matter of fact, aspiring AI professionals and even companies have started upskilling to stay in sync as the evolution of new technology keeps growing.

Here’s what Venkata Machavarapu, Head of Engineering, India and Site Director at Indeed India said during the release,

“In light of our new reality in a post-pandemic world, the need of the hour is twofold – to reinvent existing tech to adapt to the new norms of social distancing and reimagined physical boundaries and to drive innovation in the creation of the tech solutions that are now required in the new normal. Even as businesses work towards regaining momentum in the global economy, it is imperative to ensure that talent is able to keep up with the emerging demands of AI-powered solutions on their skills.”

The survival mode depends on how efficiently an AI engineer demonstrates their skill while handling projects.

As robots replace 2 million jobs in 2025, it is evident that the world will run in a more automated way. The world is expected to upgrade skills and be able to manage to work alongside automation. As said by Daniel Susskind, a fellow in economics at Balliol College, University of Oxford, “This pandemic has created a very strong incentive to automate the work of human beings.”

This change of replacing robots during the COVID-19 crisis has hugely impacted society at large. According to theory, AI and automation should be able to free humans from redundant and repetitive tasks. As such, they may be able to take their focus on something more productive and intellectual.

Conclusion

AI thrives to lead the world into the near future. But to gain acceptance, advanced knowledge in AI skills is highly recommended. Aspiring AI professionals and companies may start by gaining skills via professional certifications.

By all accounts, the pandemic has increased the adoption of automation and AI. It is one of those job roles where the demand is high but the supply of workers is low. As industries start investing in AI, we all must prepare to keep our careers safe.

Featured photo by Tara Winstead by Pexels