PwC: AI skills boom lifts demand for human judgement in Jamaica

Jamaican employers are being told to overhaul how they build skills as artificial intelligence remakes workplaces around the world and shifts what talent markets reward.

PricewaterhouseCoopers’ (PwC) 2026 AI Jobs Barometer points to a sharp change in the capabilities companies prize. Hugh Thompson, director, consulting (digital transformation) at PwC Jamaica, said AI is making distinctively human strengths more valuable. “AI is increasing the importance of uniquely human capabilities,” Thompson said. “Employees will need to combine AI literacy with critical thinking, communication, leadership and sound judgement.”

Drawing on more than one billion job advertisements across 27 countries and territories, the research found that vacancies seeking AI-related skills are expanding almost eight times as fast as the overall labour market. Globally, people who hold AI skills now earn a 62 per cent wage premium.

The same work maps a split in how AI is remoulding occupations. “As AI transforms the workplace, organisations must ensure employees are equipped with both the technical and human skills needed to succeed,” Thompson said. “The ability to adapt, collaborate, communicate effectively and exercise sound judgement will become increasingly important as AI becomes more integrated into everyday work.”

Firms most steeped in AI are pulling ahead on output, with labour productivity among leading organisations rising by 163 per cent, well above gains at less exposed companies.

Jossett Francis Wint, senior manager, consulting (workforce) at PwC Jamaica, argued that public debate often fixates on jobs that may vanish rather than on roles already being redesigned. “Much of the conversation around AI has focused on which jobs may disappear, but the bigger story is how jobs are changing,” she said. “Organisations creating the most value from AI are using technology to amplify human expertise, improve decision-making, and unlock new growth opportunities.”

Junior posts are shifting especially quickly. In occupations heavily touched by AI, entry-level openings are more often asking for attributes once tied to senior staff, such as leadership and creativity. Those junior roles have expanded 35 per cent since 2019, while other entry-level positions have shrunk.

For employers in Jamaica, the results underline pressure to fund workforce transformation — upskilling, redesigned jobs, change management and careful adoption of AI.

“As AI becomes more integrated into everyday business operations, success will depend on how effectively organisations combine technology with human capability,” Thompson added. “The businesses that invest in both will be best positioned to compete and grow.”