Work

The Characteristics of the Artificial Intelligence Workforce across OECD Countries

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study provides representative, cross-country estimates of the artificial intelligence (AI) workforce across the OECD countries. The AI workforce is defined as the subset of workers with skills in statistics, computer science and machine learning who could actively develop and maintain AI systems. For countries that wish to be at the forefront of AI development, understanding the AI workforce is crucial to building and nurturing a talent pipeline, and ensuring that those who create AI reflect the diversity of society. This study uses data from online job vacancies to measure the within-occupation intensity of AI skill demand. The within-occupation AI intensity is then weighted to employment by occupation in labour force surveys to provide estimates of the size and growth of the AI workforce over time. The study finds that the AI workforce in the OECD countries is still relatively small—less than 0.3% of employment—but growing rapidly. Workers with AI skills are not representative of the overall employed population in OECD societies: They tend to be disproportionately male with a tertiary education.

Source: Indian Journal of Labour Economics

DOI: 10.1007/s41027-024-00549-7

Authors: Andrew Green, Lucas Lamby

Institutions: Organisation de Coopération et de Développement Economiques, Harvard University

Language: English

Topic: Labor market dynamics and wage inequality

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Decent work and economic growth, Gender equality, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,590