AI job postings rebound as firms hire users over developers

Professional services led growth as AI vacancies climbed 50% YoY in 2025.

Hong Kong businesses are increasingly hiring employees to use artificial intelligence (AI) rather than develop it, as AI job postings rebounded in 2025, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers' (PwC's) 2026 Global AI Jobs Barometer.

PwC's Hong Kong analysis found AI-related job postings rose 50% year on year to 21,000 in 2025 from 14,000 in 2024. AI jobs accounted for 4.7% of all job postings, up from 3.6% a year earlier, although still below the 2023 peak of 24,000 postings.

The report showed AI user roles dominated hiring activity. Around 6,900 AI user positions were added in 2025, doubling from the previous year, whilst AI developer roles increased by 87 positions, or 1.3%.

PwC said this indicates that businesses are prioritising AI application and integration over core AI development.

Professional Services recorded the largest increase in AI hiring share amongst sectors, rising 2.1 percentage points in 2025 compared with 2024. Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT) continued to have the highest proportion of AI job postings, whilst every sector tracked in the report recorded growth.

AI user roles accounted for more than 80% of AI-related jobs in both the Professional Services and TMT sectors. By contrast, Government and Public Sector, Health Industries and Consumer Markets recorded higher proportions of AI developer roles.

PwC also found occupations with higher AI exposure continued to experience faster changes in required skills. Between 2021 and 2025, the average net skills change increased from 3.24 amongst the least AI-exposed occupations to 6.69 for the most AI-exposed roles.

Michael Cheng, Workforce Lead Partner at PwC Hong Kong, said the recovery in AI hiring reflects a shift in how businesses are using the technology.

"The re-emergence of AI roles signals that Hong Kong businesses are transitioning from experimentation to execution. True competitive advantage lies in utilising AI to elevate employee capabilities, spark rapid innovation, and unlock unprecedented business value," Cheng said.

Wilson Chow, PwC's Global TMT Industry Leader and China AI Leader, said businesses should strengthen governance as AI adoption expands.

"As Hong Kong undergoes AI transformation, it is essential for companies to establish transparent accountability and strong governance in the use of AI technologies to sustain long-term competitiveness," Chow said.

The findings are based on PwC's analysis of more than one billion job advertisements worldwide across six continents. For Hong Kong, the report analysed AI hiring trends, skill requirements and sector-level demand using job postings data.