One important legacy of the post-pandemic era of 2020 was the possibility that the global workforce could go fully remote.
Five years down the line, working from home is now being challenged by the AI wave.
TL;DR
- Tech, marketing, and data roles dominate listings that flag AI tools as “required.”
- Employers are prioritizing AI-literate remote talent, reshaping how digital workforces evolve in 2025.
The infographic above shows the top 10 occupations rapidly listing “AI” as a required skill. It comes from Lightcast, a data collector on the global labor market.
Top 10 Occupations Listing “AI” As A Required Skill
As AI tools become more integrated into everyday workflows, specific roles are adopting them faster than others.
The list below highlights the top 10 occupations where AI is now a required skill.
| wdt_ID | wdt_created_by | wdt_created_at | wdt_last_edited_by | wdt_last_edited_at | Occupation | Monthly Job Postings | Change from Last Year (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 13/07/2026 10:27 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 13/07/2026 10:27 AM | Software developers and software quality assurance analysts and testers | 20,242 | 92 |
| 2 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 13/07/2026 10:27 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 13/07/2026 10:27 AM | Marketing managers | 11,570 | 142 |
| 3 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 13/07/2026 10:27 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 13/07/2026 10:27 AM | Computer occupations, all other | 9,580 | 90 |
| 4 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 13/07/2026 10:27 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 13/07/2026 10:27 AM | Computer and information systems managers | 6,884 | 137 |
| 5 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 13/07/2026 10:27 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 13/07/2026 10:27 AM | Computer and information research scientists | 5,687 | 61 |
| 6 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 13/07/2026 10:27 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 13/07/2026 10:27 AM | Management analysts | 3,001 | 67 |
| 7 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 13/07/2026 10:27 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 13/07/2026 10:27 AM | Market research analysts and marketing specialists | 2,712 | 85 |
| 8 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 13/07/2026 10:27 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 13/07/2026 10:27 AM | Sales managers | 2,501 | 149 |
| 9 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 13/07/2026 10:27 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 13/07/2026 10:27 AM | Computer systems analysts | 2,362 | 145 |
| 10 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 13/07/2026 10:27 AM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 13/07/2026 10:27 AM | Chemists | 2,144 | 4,276 |
Source: Lightcast Job Postings Dashboard, retrieved Aug. 8, 2025
Note: “Monthly job postings” reflects the total number of postings in the most recent 30-day period. “Change from last year” represents the percentage difference compared to the same 30-day period one year earlier.
Two things are prevalent from this table.
One, the future of work isn’t waiting, and neither is AI. What looks like simple growth percentages is, in reality, a redrawing of the global job map.
The surge is staggering (over 20,000 monthly openings) for software developers citing AI skills, nearly double last year’s figure.
Nearly 70% of developer roles on global boards already advertise hybrid or remote flexibility, meaning the very people building automation tools are also redefining where and how work happens.
Then there’s chemistry. Even lab-heavy fields are outsourcing part of their thinking to models and simulations.
Top AI Skills Demanded in Remote Job Listings
Remote postings requiring AI skills are already on a massive scale.
Lightcast reported over 120,000 AI-tagged job ads in the past 30 days, with more than 100 percent year-over-year growth.
Though jobs requiring AI as a specific skill have doubled since last year, AI is not the skill that has seen the most growth in job postings.
The top three skills by year-over-year growth are AI agents, ChatGPT, and prompt engineering.
Marketers and sales professionals are embracing AI for personalization, automation, and analytics. Many open roles now also require proficiency in no-code AI tools.
How AI Skills in Remote Jobs Are Rising
According to a May 2025 survey by edX, remote-friendly roles feel this shift most.
More than 60% of workers say they’re considering upskilling because of AI, and 54% now see AI skills as essential for staying competitive.
Tech jobs still lead, but AI requirements are spreading far beyond software engineering.
Remote openings for marketing managers, analysts, and product specialists have risen 120% to 145%, and even hands-on roles like chemists and research scientists are now embedding AI tools into their daily work.
Younger workers are driving much of the momentum.
67% of Millennials and Gen Z plan to upskill, and nearly half spend over $5,000 a year on AI training.
What This Means for Job Seekers
Understanding AI tools and frameworks is the new baseline.
Success also depends on knowing your role in the AI ecosystem. Even roles traditionally tied to offices, such as research scientists, now demand predictive modeling and AI-assisted simulations.
Remote opportunities now often favor those who blend domain expertise with machine intelligence.
It makes sense to build a portfolio that showcases not just technical proficiency, but applied problem-solving with AI.
Those who can do this will not only navigate remote roles confidently but also stand out as the candidates shaping the future of work.
ELI5: AI Skills and Remote Jobs
Tech, marketing, and data roles account for most listings that label AI tools as “required.”
Employers are clearly shifting toward remote workers who understand AI, reshaping the digital workforce.
Sources:
Also read:
Is AI Actually Boosting Productivity? Global Trend
Automation Risk and Jobs Exposed to AI: Which Roles Are Most Vulnerable?
The Rate of AI Job Automation: 20 Fastest Changing Occupations
