UK AI jobs surge 61% as overall vacancies fall

The UK job market is splitting into two tracks, with AI-related roles surging 61% over the past year, adding 68,000 positions, while overall vacancies dropped 6.6%, according to PwC's 2026 AI Jobs Barometer. Salaries for AI-literate professionals jumped by an average of 34.2%, hitting 64% in consumer markets. The hiring boom is driven by AI users rather than developers, with application-focused roles growing 66% versus 21.6% for technical builders. Entry-level positions in AI-exposed fields now increasingly demand senior-level skills like leadership and strategic judgement, raising expectations for young professionals entering the workforce.