The AI Talent Divide (LinkedIn Economic Graph, 2026)

What it is

An eight-page August 2026 report from LinkedIn's Economic Graph Research Institute by Matthew Baird, Silvia Lara and Mar Carpanelli. It finds the typical AI job posting lists a $177K salary versus $80K for non-AI roles, women account for 26% of new AI hires versus 50% in non-AI occupations, about 91% of AI roles are held by workers with a bachelor's degree or higher, and Gen Z makes up more than two-thirds of hires for AI Engineer and Forward Deployed Engineer roles.

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