Job postings that mention artificial intelligence have climbed 134% above pre-pandemic levels, even as overall U.S. hiring has stalled, according to new data from Indeed's Hiring Lab. The growth is not confined to software engineering. In human resources, the share of postings with AI-related terms nearly doubled in 2025, rising from 4.4% in January to 8.8% by December.
AI skills are spreading across the org chart
Indeed's AI Tracker reached 4.2% of all job postings in December 2025-the highest share on record. The surge began accelerating after the release of large language models like ChatGPT in late 2022, and it has since moved well beyond data science and machine learning roles. Marketing saw the sharpest recent jump, with AI mentions in postings rising from 8.4% to 14.9% over the year. Human resources, banking and finance, management, project management, and accounting all posted similar gains.
Nearly 45% of data and analytics postings now contain AI-related terms, the highest rate among all occupational groups. But the most striking change is happening in knowledge work sectors that had little connection to AI just a few years ago. The HR figure-8.8%-may still seem modest, but the doubling within a single year signals how quickly employer expectations are shifting for roles like recruiting, benefits administration, and people operations.
The math behind the shift
Overall job postings on Indeed ended 2025 only 6% above their February 2020 baseline. Postings that mention AI, however, were 134% higher than that same period. The gap is even wider in the tech sector: total tech postings had fallen 34% below pre-pandemic levels, while tech postings that mention AI were about 45% higher. Employers are concentrating their limited hiring budgets on AI-focused roles, even as they trim headcount elsewhere.
Job gains in 2025 were more than 1.4 million lower than they would have been at 2024's pace, and workers have grown cautious about changing jobs. That combination-cool hiring and a narrow AI focus-means that candidates who can demonstrate AI skills have a clearer advantage in an otherwise sluggish market.
Workers are still catching up
Only about 43% of U.S. workers reported regularly using AI at work in 2025, and roughly 40% said they were actively disengaged with AI tools, according to Indeed Hiring Lab survey data. For HR professionals, that gap is a double signal: the function itself is being asked to adopt AI, and the broader workforce needs help building comfort with these tools.
Why this matters for HR professionals
The data makes one thing plain: AI literacy is no longer optional for HR roles. Job descriptions are starting to list AI competencies alongside traditional requirements like compliance knowledge and employee relations experience. HR professionals who build these skills now can differentiate themselves in a hiring market that is still tight. Structured training can help, and there are resources built specifically for the field. An AI Learning Path for HR Managers provides a guided curriculum for those in leadership roles, while AI for Human Resources courses offer broader skill-building for practitioners at any level.
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