AI-Mentioned Postings
2.62M
Jan 2025-Mar 2026
Key Findings
From automated workflows that boost team productivity to strategic expectations embedded in role requirements, here is what is defining early-hire expectations.
1
AI Skills Are Becoming a Baseline Hiring Requirement
Specialized roles are no longer the exclusive source of AI requirements. Over 2.62M postings referenced AI skills; 19.11% of all postings in Q1 2026.
2
AI Hiring Demand Accelerated in Q1 2026
Demand accelerated dramatically in Q1 2026. AI skill requirements in entry-level hiring rose from 8.34% to 13.78% within the last 12 months.
3
Operational AI Skills Are Now Required
Employers are moving beyond general interest: among postings referencing AI, requirements shifted from optional preferences to essential mandates (75.66% required share).
AI Adoption in Job Postings
AI adoption is increasing across both the broader labor market and entry-level hiring. Employers are not only mentioning AI more often, but also embedding AI skills into everyday job expectations.
AI Share of All Postings
12.6%
All Careers with AI Skills
12.64% of all job postings processed (2.62M out of 20.7M) mentioned at least one AI-related tool or framework.
AI Share of Entry-Level Postings
9.9%
Entry-Level Opportunities
9.88% of entry-level postings (233,035 out of all early-career listings) included AI skills, showing AI is now an issue at the start of career pipelines.
Where AI Is Showing Up
Most Wanted Skillsets
Mention Rate Index
#01
AI / Artificial Intelligence
2,140,339 mentions 82%
#02
Machine Learning
1,620,951 mentions 62%
#03
LLM / Large Language Models
414,710 mentions 16%
#04
Deep Learning / Neural Networks
257,981 mentions 10%
#05
PyTorch
247,206 mentions 9.5%
#06
TensorFlow
223,271 mentions 8.5%
#07
AI tools / workflows
214,122 mentions 8.2%
#08
NLP
206,073 mentions 7.9%
Where AI Is Showing Up
Hiring Sector Category
Total Postings Mentioning AI (Jan 25- May 26)
Software / Engineering
512,002
AI / Data Science
460,535
Data / Analytics
189,843
Product / Project
161,303
Research / Science
120,749
IT / Cloud / Security
111,137
Marketing
93,965
Where AI Is Showing Up
State Location
Volume & Overall State Intensity Ratio
Location Hub
AI Mention Postings
Ratio
California (CA)
354,900
16.44%
Texas (TX)
176,596
11.16%
New York (NY)
147,923
12.90%
Washington (WA)
88,053
18.52%
Virginia (VA)
83,033
13.44%
Massachusetts (MA)
78,442
12.94%
Illinois (IL)
75,107
10.48%