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Ranked: The Top 10 Most In-Demand AI Job Skills
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Key Takeaways
- Python stands as the most sought-after skill across AI job postings in America.
- Data analysis also ranks highly, as employers seek professionals who can extract insights from complex datasets using statistical techniques.
- Additionally, Agile methodology was mentioned in over 88,000 postings—highlighting the value of this iterative project management style, especially in software roles.
In 2024, U.S. private investment in AI soared to $109 billion, driving ripple effects across the job market.
Overall, the number of postings for AI jobs increased by 20% in an ever-expanding field. Among the most frequently mentioned AI skills center around programming languages and data science. In addition, experience in project management ranks in the top 10 given the complexity of AI projects.
This visualization is part of Visual Capitalist’s AI Week, sponsored by Terzo, and shows the most in-demand skills for AI jobs, based on data from Lightcast via the 2025 AI Index Report.
Python Tops the List
Here are the 10 most wanted skills for AI jobs in 2024 based on the number of mentions in job postings:
| Specialized Skill | # of AI Job Postings in the U.S.2024 | # of AI Job Postings in the U.S.2012-2014 | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python | 199,213 | 31,782 | 527% |
| Computer science | 193,341 | 83,826 | 131% |
| Data analysis | 128,938 | 41,842 | 208% |
| SQL | 119,441 | 51,304 | 133% |
| Data science | 110,620 | 11,861 | 833% |
| Automation | 102,210 | 22,157 | 361% |
| Project management | 101,127 | 54,035 | 87% |
| Amazon Web Services | 100,881 | 5,371 | 1,778% |
| Agile methodology | 88,141 | 20,330 | 334% |
| Scalability | 86,990 | 19,886 | 337% |
With over 199,000 mentions, Python, a programming language, ranked first overall.
Today, Python plays a fundamental role in many AI jobs. This is driven by its simplicity and wide usage in developing, testing, and deploying AI systems. Similarly, SQL, another programming language, ranked among the top three most frequently mentioned AI skills.
As we can see, data analysis and data science skills are also in high demand. Data science skills include using statistical analysis to analyze massive sets of data. Through the use of advanced techniques, insights can be extracted from data sets such as consumer behaviors and demographic profiles.
Meanwhile, scalability skills appeared frequently given the importance of knowing how to manage larger volumes of data without compromising performance and accuracy within AI systems.
Looking beyond technical skills, we can see that project management experience and knowledge in Agile methodology rank among the top 10. Here, Agile methodology is a process that focuses on the self-management of teams to deliver regularly, improve continuously, and adapt quickly as the industry changes rapidly.
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Learn More on the Voronoi App
To learn more about this topic from a job market perspective, check out this graphic on the jobs that are using AI the most in America.