Jobs & Workforce
What percentage of leaders won't hire workers without AI skills?
Short Answer
66% of leaders say they wouldn't hire someone without AI skills, and 71% prefer a less experienced candidate with AI skills over a more experienced one without (Microsoft & LinkedIn, 2024).
Key Facts
- 66% — of leaders say they wouldn't hire someone without AI skills (Microsoft & LinkedIn, 2024).
- 56% — wage premium for workers with AI skills vs. the same role without (PwC, 2025).
- 78% — of AI users bring their own AI tools to work (BYOAI) (Microsoft & LinkedIn, 2024).
of leaders say they wouldn't hire someone without AI skills
From the 2024 Work Trend Index. 71% also prefer a less experienced candidate with AI skills over a more experienced one without.
Are employers providing AI training to match this demand?
No — and that's the largest disconnect in the 2024–2026 workforce data. Only about half of workers have received any AI training from their employer, and nearly 20% report no support at all. 40% of companies still don't offer AI training despite paying premiums for AI skills.
How are workers getting AI skills then?
Mostly on their own. 78% of AI users bring their own tools to work (BYOAI), 29% of employees pay for their own AI tools, and 50.2% use personal AI accounts for work. The self-funded upskilling curve is outpacing corporate L&D programmes.
What AI skills do employers want most?
Applied AI literacy (knowing when and how to use AI tools in a workflow), prompt engineering, AI-assisted coding, data analysis with AI, and domain-specific AI use (e.g. AI for legal research, AI for clinical documentation). Formal ML/research skills matter less than practical applied fluency.
Supporting Data
Recommended Citation
AI Statistics Center, citing Microsoft & LinkedIn (2024). https://aistatisticscenter.com/answers/what-percentage-of-ceos-wont-hire-without-ai-skills
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