Let’s be real: if you didn’t see this on the top of the list, you have lived under a rock since 2022 (Which, given the global housing crisis, I couldn’t blame you for. Finding an affordable rock is hard these days.) Demand for AI and Machine Learning Specialists is expected to grow by 40%, or 1 million jobs, in the next five years according to the World Economic Forum — that’s the fastest growing career across all professions, including the non-technical trades like mining or marketing. 

Working in AI/ML also makes you an easy hire. According to Gartner, AI/ML had the second-highest hiring difficulty (nine out of ten) and one of the largest market salaries (USD $142,600 or greater). 

Even if you’re not in a technical role, or don’t want to become an AI specialist because you’re working as something like a Cloud Architect or a programmer, knowing AI is becoming an essential skill in 2024 and beyond (For cloud specialists, it’s especially important, as these spaces are quickly intersecting with services like Amazon Q). AI is no longer a skill for a technical role, it affects everyone, with tools like ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, Synk Code, and Mintlify changing how we go about work.