AI in the UK - in 2024 and Beyond

The year 2024 has seen the world of work undergo yet more transformation through the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI). At Lightcast, we’ve been at the forefront of providing actionable insights on the impact AI is having on global, national, and regional workforces through our comprehensive research and thought leadership.

The Vital Role of Data in Shaping AI Strategies

Any solutions to the AI skills challenge that are not evidence-based will fall wide of the mark. We need to know which AI skills are in demand and which AI skills are emerging, in order to know which skills to incorporate into courses and training programmes.

One of the unique things about Lightcast is that much of the data and methodologies we employ in our cutting-edge research ends up in our software platforms. For example, we have incorporated the skills group we used to create the Lightcast Global AI Skills Outlook into our Analyst platform. As we demonstrated to customers in our AI in the UK training session, users of the tool can now use this group of AI skills to explore demand for AI skills in their area. This means that:

• Education providers are empowered to identify relevant AI skills to include in their courses.

• Regional governments are enabled to align their workforce strategies with local needs.

• Employers can stay competitive by identifying which AI skills other companies in their sector are looking for.

Lightcast's Global Insights Into AI Skills

In the Lightcast Global AI Skills Outlook, we provided an in-depth analysis of AI’s global impact, highlighting current demand and emerging trends across 16 countries. We also partnered with Stanford University’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI) once again on their annual AI Index Report, which seeks to further understanding of AI’s evolving role. More recently, we joined together with the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) in Brussels for a roundtable that explored the role of transversal skills (also labelled human, common or soft skills) in the age of AI, and how cities and regions can adapt their strategies to prepare a future-ready workforce.

AI and the UK Workforce

While AI’s influence is global, its effects vary significantly by region. We explored some of the challenges and opportunities that are unique to the UK in our “AI in the UK” series, which included a webinar open to all, plus customer innovation and training sessions. Here are some key takeaways from these events:

Demand for AI Skills in the UK

AI skills demand in the UK has more than tripled over the past decade, though it remains significantly lower than countries such as the US and Singapore. Our data reveals:

• Job postings in the UK mentioning AI skills grew from 0.36% in 2014 to 1.29% in 2022.

• By comparison, the US reached 1.97%, and Singapore topped the charts at 5.4% in 2022.

• The UK boasts two major AI hubs – London and Reading – which are both ranked among the Top 50 cities globally for AI skills demand.

In addition, AI is not just influencing traditional tech roles, but is also starting to have a significant impact on non tech roles. For example:

• Legal firms across the UK are adopting large language models (LLMs) for contract reviews.

• Job postings for roles such as Researcher, Product Manager, Technical Sales Representative, and Writer are increasingly including requirements for Generative AI skills.

However, rather than replacing jobs, AI is augmenting them, opening up potential new career pathways for people by upskilling or reskilling them to use AI skills, which often offer a salary premium. You can find more data on demand for AI skills in the UK here and here.

Challenges and Opportunities in the UK

In our customer innovation session, we heard how both Further Education (FE) and Higher Education (HE) institutions are embedding AI into courses to prepare students for evolving job demands. However, a common theme was that of limited resources and expertise hampering this transition. This lack of funding and expertise, if not adequately addressed, could result in a widening “AI skills gap”.

Some of the key opportunities highlighted were:

• The need for continuous reskilling and upskilling to meet evolving job requirements.

• The role of lifelong learning in ensuring individuals are equipped for ongoing workforce change.

• The importance of cross-sector collaboration to address resource and knowledge gaps.

Looking Forward to 2025 and Beyond

With the transformation of the UK labour market through technologies such as AI set to continue into 2025 and beyond, so too is our commitment to bringing you the best and freshest insights to help you understand these changes.

In early 2025, we will release a new report on skills disruption in the UK, focusing on some of the priorities outlined by Skills England, including digital and AI skills. Alongside this report, we will also be bringing you:

• A webinar where we delve into the details of this new report.

• A customer-only innovation session where we discuss the findings.

• A customer training session to show how skills demand for the Skills England priority sectors can be identified in Analyst.

Above all, we’ll be continuing our drive to illuminate the complex world of work in the age of transformative technologies like AI. Join us as we bring insights to help you train and develop a genuinely future-ready workforce that can thrive in the rapidly changing world of work.

💡 Check out some more of our pieces looking at demand for AI skills.

• The Lightcast Approach to AI

• Baked-In Bias: The Need for Ethical AI

• Emerging trends in AI