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AI is creating a two-track labour market, where roles that amplify human expertise are growing faster than those made easier for non-experts to perform.
AI is reshaping the global labour market into two distinct paths, with the strongest growth going to roles where technology amplifies human expertise rather than replaces it, according to PwC’s 2026 AI Jobs Barometer.
The Barometer, based on analysis of more than 1bn job ads across six continents, says "professionalised" roles are growing faster than those being "democratised" by AI.
In professionalised jobs – such as radiologists and recruiters, AI automates routine tasks, placing greater emphasis on judgement, expertise, and human capability. By contrast, democratised roles – such as IT service managers or medical secretaries are those where AI makes the work easier for non-experts to perform.
According to PwC, professionalised roles are seeing twice the growth in available jobs and 42% faster salary growth than democratised roles.
The shift is also reaching entry-level work. In the US, AI-exposed junior roles are now seven times more likely to require senior-level skills such as leadership, creativity and face-to-face interaction. In fact, job openings for these 'seniorised' entry-level roles have grown 35% since 2019, while other entry-level roles shrank 10%.
READ MORE: AI, burnout, and a shrinking talent pool: What 2025 taught us about the future workplace
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