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Where AI Demand Is Growing Fastest

Job postings that ask for AI skills grew 111% from September 2025 to September 2026. This tracker follows that demand each month by job, skill, industry, state and metro area.

Tracker status

Last updated

Oct 12, 2026

Job postings asking for AI skills

368,605

Changes this update

First version

See the update log →

111%

growth in job postings that ask for AI skills

September 2025 to September 2026

368,605

job postings asked for AI skills in September 2026

Up from 174,875 in September 2025

3.8%

of all U.S. job postings asked for AI skills

Up from 2.1% in September 2025

Job postings that ask for AI skills, by month

U.S. job postings, Sep 2025 to Sep 2026

Fastest-growing job

+162.1%

Industrial Engineers

Growth in postings asking for AI skills, past 12 months

Fastest-growing AI skill

+330.1%

ChatGPT

Growth in mentions in job postings, past 12 months

Fastest-growing state

+181%

Colorado

Growth in postings asking for AI skills, past year

Fastest-growing metro area

+293%

Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA

Fastest growth among the 50 metro areas with the most job postings

AI Job Postings by Month

MonthJob postings asking for AI skillsAll job postingsShare asking for AI skills
Sep 2026368,6059,583,2403.8%
Aug 2026329,5248,697,5203.8%
Jul 2026310,6928,572,8243.6%
Jun 2026298,7988,546,0863.5%
May 2026289,2588,861,7323.3%
Apr 2026266,6888,519,2123.1%
Mar 2026251,6028,719,5192.9%
Feb 2026218,4547,934,1012.8%
Jan 2026194,0547,552,6162.6%
Dec 2025185,3687,416,2832.5%
Nov 2025196,8948,150,1082.4%
Oct 2025194,0828,578,3172.3%
Sep 2025174,8758,460,7282.1%

Source: Bipartisan Policy Center, Skills Data Dashboard, Lightcast job postings data, updated Oct 9, 2026.

Fastest-Growing Jobs That Require AI Skills

OccupationGrowth, past 12 monthsPostings asking for AI skills, past 12 monthsPostings added
Industrial Engineers+162.1%37,36223,105
General and Operations Managers+114.7%27,52314,704
Marketing Managers+109.5%75,03939,226
Software Developers+94.3%209,961101,907
Computer Occupations, All Other+89.5%67,52831,886
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists+73.6%22,8409,680
Computer and Information Research Scientists+57.0%90,66832,935
Database Architects+50.2%28,6719,585
Data Scientists+18.9%83,65213,324

Source: Bipartisan Policy Center, Skills Data Dashboard, Lightcast job postings data, updated Oct 9, 2026. The occupations with the most postings that ask for AI skills.

AI Skills Employers Want Most

AI skillGrowth, past 12 monthsJob postings mentioning it, past 12 monthsMedian advertised salary
ChatGPT+330.1%54,396$104,320
Prompt Engineering+257.8%59,011$157,568
Artificial Intelligence+124.4%760,263$160,640
Generative Artificial Intelligence+106.3%221,919$166,784
MLOps (Machine Learning Operations)+99.8%52,122$175,872
Large Language Modeling+98.1%68,068$169,856
Machine Learning+44.1%478,435$171,904
PyTorch (Machine Learning Library)+28.0%61,370$180,096
Predictive Modeling+24.9%57,912$140,160
TensorFlow+10.0%51,649$171,904

Source: Bipartisan Policy Center, Skills Data Dashboard, Lightcast job postings data, updated Oct 9, 2026. The AI skills mentioned in the most job postings.

Industries Hiring for AI Skills

IndustryGrowth, past 12 monthsPostings asking for AI skills, past 12 monthsPostings added
Computer Systems Design Services+126.6%66,20136,980
All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services+105.5%15,9468,186
Commercial Banking+99.2%54,87427,321
Other Management Consulting Services+89.8%20,6969,790
Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services+89.3%33,39915,758
Offices of Certified Public Accountants+85.1%30,13413,856
Software Publishers+77.8%55,15024,134
Engineering Services+76.5%26,21111,361
Electronic Computer Manufacturing+75.5%20,5588,843
Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services+73.1%33,13613,988

Source: Bipartisan Policy Center, Skills Data Dashboard, Lightcast job postings data, updated Oct 9, 2026. The industries with the most postings that ask for AI skills.

States Where AI Jobs Are Growing Fastest

    RankStateGrowth in postings asking for AI skills, past yearAI postings addedChange in other job postings
    1Colorado+181%4,067+2%
    2Pennsylvania+176%5,226+21%
    3New York+133%9,658+2%
    4Oklahoma+124%794−4%
    5Mississippi+124%545+2%
    6Maryland+122%2,561+21%
    7Montana+120%365−1%
    8Tennessee+118%1,591+1%
    9Alaska+118%298+16%
    10Ohio+114%2,805+6%
    11District of Columbia+114%1,640+12%
    12Florida+104%4,128+10%
    13Alabama+102%1,0640%
    14Indiana+101%1,217+1%
    15Wisconsin+100%1,222+1%
    16Iowa+95%682−6%
    17Texas+94%8,182+7%
    18North Carolina+93%2,807+5%
    19Connecticut+89%928+1%
    20Louisiana+89%610+3%
    21Kentucky+87%5760%
    22South Carolina+86%758+6%
    23Arizona+85%1,762+3%
    24Illinois+82%4,000−3%
    25New Jersey+82%2,582−1%
    26Virginia+80%3,886+2%
    27New Hampshire+80%376−4%
    28Missouri+78%1,128−1%
    29Nevada+78%509+7%
    30Utah+76%778+3%
    31Nebraska+74%441−10%
    32Idaho+73%569+5%
    33California+70%12,788−1%
    34Kansas+69%719−4%
    35West Virginia+67%235−10%
    36Georgia+66%2,1690%
    37New Mexico+65%413−3%
    38Hawaii+65%244−8%
    39Massachusetts+64%2,944−3%
    40Michigan+62%1,671−2%
    41North Dakota+62%197−14%
    42Washington+60%2,592−6%
    43South Dakota+60%205−17%
    44Oregon+57%685−12%
    45Minnesota+55%1,086−5%
    46Wyoming+53%142−11%
    47Delaware+48%470+9%
    48Arkansas+36%399−13%
    49Maine+25%171−3%
    50Vermont+22%121−13%
    51Rhode Island+16%98−9%

    Source: Bipartisan Policy Center, Skills Data Dashboard, Lightcast job postings data, updated Oct 9, 2026.

    The Fastest-Growing AI Job in Every State

    StateFastest-growing AI jobGrowth, past 12 monthsPostings asking for AI skills, past 12 months
    AlabamaIndustrial Engineers+263.5%309
    AlaskaSales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products+197.1%101
    ArizonaManagers, All Other+140.0%444
    ArkansasIndustrial Engineers+142.7%267
    CaliforniaIndustrial Engineers+128.0%7,790
    ColoradoIndustrial Engineers+270.5%678
    ConnecticutIndustrial Engineers+167.4%385
    DelawareArchitectural and Engineering Managers+237.1%209
    District of ColumbiaLawyers+189.9%487
    FloridaPhysical Therapists+414.4%2,068
    GeorgiaIndustrial Engineers+172.6%995
    HawaiiIndustrial Engineers+382.6%111
    IdahoIndustrial Engineers+298.9%351
    IllinoisIndustrial Engineers+246.4%1,805
    IndianaSales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products+194.4%265
    IowaIndustrial Engineers+253.3%212
    KansasSoftware Developers+112.0%1,588
    KentuckyMarketing Managers+155.5%465
    LouisianaIndustrial Engineers+244.2%179
    MaineSales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products+203.8%158
    MarylandIndustrial Engineers+185.2%790
    MassachusettsIndustrial Engineers+143.7%1,674
    MichiganMarketing Managers+155.8%1,389
    MinnesotaIndustrial Engineers+267.3%540
    MississippiIndustrial Engineers+262.0%181
    MissouriSoftware Developers+135.0%2,329
    MontanaSales Managers+168.6%94
    NebraskaSales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products+226.8%183
    NevadaIndustrial Engineers+238.9%183
    New HampshireIndustrial Engineers+302.3%173
    New JerseyIndustrial Engineers+238.4%1,076
    New MexicoIndustrial Engineers+341.7%159
    New YorkIndustrial Engineers+232.6%2,548
    North CarolinaIndustrial Engineers+172.0%1,156
    North DakotaSales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products+209.3%133
    OhioMarketing Managers+111.9%1,305
    OklahomaSales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products+171.2%198
    OregonIndustrial Engineers+126.3%353
    PennsylvaniaIndustrial Engineers+210.5%913
    Rhode IslandSales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products+227.5%131
    South CarolinaSales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products+221.9%206
    South DakotaIndustrial Engineers+213.9%113
    TennesseeSales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products+171.4%323
    TexasIndustrial Engineers+161.6%3,343
    UtahIndustrial Engineers+263.9%302
    VermontSales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products+191.7%140
    VirginiaIndustrial Engineers+175.4%1,553
    WashingtonIndustrial Engineers+111.1%1,573
    West VirginiaIndustrial Engineers+260.6%119
    WisconsinGeneral and Operations Managers+113.8%278
    WyomingIndustrial Engineers+270.8%89

    Source: Bipartisan Policy Center, Skills Data Dashboard, Lightcast job postings data, updated Oct 9, 2026. Among each state’s occupations with the most postings that ask for AI skills.

    Metro Areas Where AI Jobs Are Growing Fastest

    RankMetro areaGrowth in postings asking for AI skills, past yearAI postings addedChange in other job postings
    1Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA+293%961+47%
    2Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO+199%2,926+2%
    3Pittsburgh, PA+187%1,421+24%
    4Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN+159%619+6%
    5Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD+152%2,763+15%
    6Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI+135%538+4%
    7Cleveland, OH+129%498+4%
    8Kansas City, MO-KS+128%767+5%
    9Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN+127%926+4%
    10Birmingham, AL+126%250+3%
    11New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ+125%10,314+3%
    12Jacksonville, FL+122%368+13%
    13Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL+115%1,342+6%
    14Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL+115%921+10%
    15Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD+113%1,390+18%
    16Oklahoma City, OK+105%475+2%
    17Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX+102%1,372+13%
    18Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV+101%286+9%
    19Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN+97%730+4%
    20Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL+97%516+12%
    21Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV+96%5,234+14%
    22San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA+96%4,983+1%
    23Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX+96%3,364+11%
    24Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA+94%570−4%
    25Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA+93%2,936−1%
    26Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX+88%2,097+13%
    27Columbus, OH+88%978+10%
    28Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN+87%3,305+1%
    29Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ+86%1,484+7%
    30Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC+86%1,043+8%
    31Raleigh-Cary, NC+85%845+3%
    32Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC+84%345−1%
    33Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI+83%1,088−4%
    34St. Louis, MO-IL+83%561−3%
    35Boise City, ID+83%528+11%
    36Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA+82%252+1%
    37Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT+78%503+2%
    38Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI+78%210+3%
    39Salt Lake City-Murray, UT+77%519+3%
    40Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA+74%501−10%
    41Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN+72%146+2%
    42San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA+68%874+2%
    43Richmond, VA+65%456−1%
    44Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH+64%2,703−3%
    45Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA+64%1,814+1%
    46Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA+60%2,150−7%
    47San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX+58%279+14%
    48Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI+57%946−2%
    49San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA+38%2,305−1%
    50Providence-Warwick, RI-MA+21%135−6%

    Source: Bipartisan Policy Center, Skills Data Dashboard, Lightcast job postings data, updated Oct 9, 2026. The 50 metro areas with the most current job postings.

    How We Maintain This Tracker

    We update this page each month with the latest data from the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Skills Data Dashboard.

    Each figure comes from the dashboard as published.

    Update Log

    Oct 12, 2026

    Published the first version with data through September 2026.

    How We Track Demand for AI Skills

    Source

    All of our data is sourced from the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Skills Data Dashboard, which itself is built on job postings data from Lightcast.

    What Counts as an AI Skill

    A job posting is considered to require an “AI skill” when it lists at least one skill that Lightcast classifies as an AI skill. The Bipartisan Policy Center describes AI skills as “a type of specialized skill that enables the development, maintenance, and use of algorithms.”

    Time Periods

    Monthly figures include U.S. job postings in each month. Job, skill and industry figures compare the latest 12 months with previous 12 months. State and metro figures compare current job postings with postings a year earlier.

    Metro Areas

    The metro table covers the 50 highly-populated metro areas with the most current job postings.