Hays, the world's leading recruitment and workforce solutions specialist, has today released a report examining the transformative effects of artificial intelligence on the technology workforce.
It ranked key technology jobs on how AI would impact them, with a score of 100 being the most impacted and 0 being the least impacted.
Key findings:
- 2025 marks the transition from isolated AI-enabled initiatives to comprehensive technology solutions that will reshape the world of work. with full implementation taking five to ten years for most businesses.
- Software Developers are set to experience the most significant impact, with an AI Impact score of 57. This is notable given their current status as the most in-demand skill set globally.
- Cyber roles are set to see multiple tasks become automated, leading to an AI impact score of 46.
- Cloud roles have an AI Impact score of 43, suggesting that while some tasks may shift the core elements of the role will remain unaffected.
- Data roles are next, with an AI Impact score of 38, indicating some tasks will soon become automated.
- CRM/ERM roles follow closely, with an AI Impact score of 35, similarly implying that the core aspects of the role will remain unchanged.
- Infrastructure roles are amongst the least impacted, with an AI Impact score of 27, indicating automation of fewer tasks. However, demand for these roles is declining due to other factors.
- Upskilling and reskilling across all roles is recommended during this period of rapid change, to ensure the core elements of each role continue to add value.
AI is rapidly reshaping the job market, causing certain roles to decline while others gain prominence. According to Hays' report, 'The Future of Work: How AI is impacting your workforce’, technology roles will undergo substantial changes, requiring upskilling to reallocate resources effectively.
Integrating AI into digital transformation efforts presents significant challenges for organisations, requiring the right vision, stakeholders, data, infrastructure, and skills. Hays' report provides insights into the global tech talent landscape and offers actionable advice for effective technology implementation and adoption. Hays’ report analyses global job volume from early 2022 to the end of 2024, offering insights into the demand for key skills and the impact of Gen AI, enabling organisations to adjust their digital transformation strategies accordingly.
Roles with higher AI Impact scores are at risk of having tasks removed as AI can perform repetitive and data heavy tasks more efficiently and accurately than humans. However, rather than eliminating entire positions, AI is automating parts of jobs and reallocating tasks. This shift has the potential to enhance the overall quality of roles by amplifying the need for more strategic positions. For exaple, there will be less demand for entry level coders with AI able to generate similar outcomes, leading to more senior roles in quality assurance and implementation.
The Demand for Skills is Shifting
The report reveals that while Software Development remains the most in-demand skills globally, its demand saw a rapid decline in 2024 due to automation and talent redeployment. Organisations are encouraging the use of AI to enhance productivity by automating repetitive tasks, leading to a reduced demand for roles like software developers. This trend is expected to continue into 2025.
Infrastructure roles also faced challenges, with demand dropping after a post-pandemic spike. Economic factors and budgetary pressures have contributed to a decline in demand for traditional support roles, as companies adjust to new norms and streamline costs.
In 2024, Project Managers were the most in-demand role as organisations prepared for AI integration and upgraded outdated technology infrastructures. ERP/CRM roles saw steady growth, largely avoiding the peaks and troughs faced by other skills areas. The strategic allocation of labour, with project management in established regions and execution outsourced to other markets, underscores the importance of developing long-term partnerships to sustain talent pipelines.
Demand for roles in Projects and Change, as well as Data and Advanced Analytics, is expected to continue throughout 2025 as organisations work towards their AI ambitions. With budgets under pressure, organisations are increasingly relying on data for strategic decision-making, driving demand for professionals who can interpret and refine machine-generated outputs. Technological advancements, including Gen AI, will reshape job volumes, but this shift will be gradual and complex, rather than an immediate replacement of jobs.
James Milligan, Hays, Global Head of Technology, Engineering and Contracting
"2025 marks the transition from isolated AI-enabled initiatives to comprehensive technology solutions that will reshape how work is done. This transformation will extend beyond 2025, with full implementation taking five to ten years for most businesses. Understanding the impact on hiring strategies and identifying key skills will be critical, with the quality, integration, and ROI of technology a direct result of the foundations laid in the next 12 months."
"Each new wave of technology, including Gen AI, brings predictions of job disruptions and new skill demands. While Gen AI is expected to continue to enhance productivity and add financial value, its benefits will vary across roles and sectors. Organisations must thoughtfully integrate human and machine intelligence to maximise effectiveness. Simply replacing roles with AI for immediate cost savings can harm long-term performance. Instead, organisations should focus on reskilling employees in 'at-risk' roles and consider internal redeployment to meet evolving needs.
"Organisations must adapt to the rapid creation and reduction of jobs driven by evolving technologies and AI automation. Defining specific skills needed at each stage of digital transformation is crucial, and a blend of high-skill contract workers and permanent employees can be more effective. Emphasising soft skills like communication, negotiation, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence is vital, especially in rapidly changing sectors.
-Ends-
AI Impact score explained
The AI Impact score provides valuable insights Into how likely a role is to be impacted by AI. Scores between 1 and 20 indicate minimal AI influence, suggesting that roles will remain largely unchanged. Scores between 21 and 40 imply that while some tasks may shift, the core role will remain unaffected. Scores between 41 and 60 signify moderate impact, with certain tasks becoming automated and upskilling required. Scores above 61 indicate a high or severe impact, with many tasks changing and the role undergoing significant transformation.
For more information, visit Haystechnology.com
About Hays
Hays plc (the "Group") is the world’s leading specialist in workforce solutions and recruitment, such as RPO and MSP. The Group is the expert at recruiting qualified, professional, and skilled people worldwide, being the market leader in the UK, Germany, and Australia and one of the market leaders in Continental Europe, Latin America, and Asia. The Group operates across the private and public sectors, dealing in permanent positions, contract roles and temporary assignments. As of 31 December 2024, the Group employed over 10,300 staff operating from 225 offices in 33 countries. For the year ended 30 June 2024:
- the Group reported net fees of £1,113.6 million and operating profit of £105.1 million.
- the Group placed around 57,700 candidates into permanent jobs and around 225,000 people into temporary roles.
- 13% of Group net fees were generated in Australia & New Zealand, 32% in Germany, 20% in United Kingdom & Ireland and 35% in Rest of World (RoW).
- the temporary placement business represented 59% of net fees and the permanent placement business represented 41% of net fees.
- Technology is the Group’s largest division, with 25% of net fees, while Accountancy & Finance (15%) and Engineering (11%), are the next largest.
- Hays operates in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, UAE, the UK, and the USA.