New research from Anglia Ruskin University shows that U.K. employers prefer graduates with artificial intelligence (AI) experience. Researchers sent out CVs from 21-year-old British applicants with a 2:1 degree, some of whom had taken an “AI in business” course.

The results were clear: male applicants with AI experience got interview invites 54% of the time, compared to 28% for those without. Female applicants with AI knowledge got interviews 50% of the time, versus 32% for those without.

Interestingly, this advantage was bigger in big firms, where AI-experienced applicants were 36 percentage points more likely to get interviews than those without.

“In the UK, AI is causing dramatic shifts in the workforce, and firms need to respond to these demands by upgrading their workforces through enhancing their AI skill levels,” the researchers explain.

“Our study clearly indicates that employers value AI knowledge and skills among job applicants. Those applicants with AI capital were significantly more likely to be invited to interview and were also more likely to have access to better paid jobs.”

Pay differences

Also, the study found a pay difference. Men with AI qualifications got jobs with salaries 12% higher on average than those without, and women with AI credentials got salaries 13% higher.

These findings show how important AI skills are becoming in the job market, affecting both hiring and pay.

“Job applicants with AI capital might possess the knowledge, skills and capabilities related to data analysis, data-driven decision-making, creativity, innovation, and effective communication, among other factors,” the researchers conclude. “These skills can enhance business operations, making them more efficient and potentially contributing to increased productivity within a firm.

“Larger firms particularly valued AI capital, possibly because they tend to undergo more AI-based structural technological transformations and have greater capacity for innovation.”