AI skills can boost salaries and unlock new market opportunities

A study analyzing around 11 million British job ads between 2018 and mid-2024, published in 2025, found a 23% salary premium for AI skills. The research, published in Technological Forecasting and Social Change, shows companies now value specific AI abilities even without traditional academic qualifications. This percentage reflects a link between AI skills and higher wages in the UK market, not a guarantee of individual pay rises. The findings cannot be directly applied to Brazil.

Shift in hiring priorities favors skills over degrees

The study “Skills or degree? The rise of skill-based hiring for AI and green jobs” by Matthew Bone, Eugenia González Ehlinger, and Fabian Stephany found that between 2018 and 2023, AI-related job postings increased by 21%, while ads requiring university degrees for these roles dropped by 15%. This suggests a growing preference for demonstrable skills, though academic qualifications remain important for many positions. For professionals across various fields, learning AI can be a competitive advantage, even without pursuing a technical career. The value of these skills depends on the role and their application to real-world problems.

Most in-demand practical skills

• Use generative tools to create initial documents, reports, and presentations;
• Automate repetitive tasks and integrate systems to organize information and classify requests;
• Analyze large datasets with AI assistance to identify patterns and inform decisions in marketing, sales, HR, and operations;
• Critically evaluate AI-generated responses to prevent errors and biases.

How to develop these skills daily

Start by identifying time-consuming routine tasks that could benefit from technology. Instead of trying to master every tool, focus on specific needs: HR professionals can use AI for job descriptions, marketers for audience research, and analysts for data synthesis and classification.

Next, compare AI-generated results with traditional methods to assess improvements in quality, speed, and consistency, while ensuring data accuracy and confidentiality.

Building a portfolio of practical applications is crucial. Documenting problems, AI usage, and outcomes demonstrates competence in interviews and evaluations. Avoid using confidential data in tools without proper authorization.

Learning should adapt to evolving tools and professional requirements. Introductory courses, specialized training, and supervised experimentation can enhance practical experience without replacing essential job-specific knowledge.

Implications for Brazilian professionals

The 23% salary premium observed in the UK suggests AI skills may be valued in specific markets. In Brazil, the impact varies by sector, role, experience, professional demand, and technology application effectiveness. Monitoring skill requirements in your field helps identify priority areas for learning.

For those starting out, Saint Paul’s Pre-MBA in AI offers four online practical classes for R$37, focusing on business applications of the technology.

Developing AI skills goes beyond mastering tools—it involves identifying problems, evaluating results, and applying technology responsibly. These abilities can help professionals adapt to new market demands, though salary and opportunity impacts depend on individual career conditions.