Artificial intelligence is becoming part of more job titles across the U.S. labor market, even as hiring remains subdued amid economic uncertainty.
Around 8.3% of standardized job titles on Indeed in the United States, roughly one in every 12, now include references to artificial intelligence, up from 2.6% in early 2022, according to new research published Wednesday by Indeed Hiring Lab. The increase reflects employers adding AI requirements to existing jobs rather than simply creating new technology-focused positions.
The research found that the number of standardized "AI-touched" job titles in the U.S. climbed from 264 in the first quarter of 2022 to 822 by the first quarter of 2026. Researchers classify a role as AI-touched when at least five job postings under the same standardized occupation include terms such as "AI," "GenAI," "AGI," or "artificial intelligence" in the employer's job title. The methodology is designed to identify occupations where AI has become a recurring part of how employers define the role, Indeed Hiring Lab said.
The shift is extending well beyond software engineering and data science. More than 60% of AI-touched job titles in the United States are now outside traditional technology occupations, according to the research. Sales, human resources, legal services, customer support, education, administration, healthcare, skilled trades, and management are among the fields where employers are increasingly incorporating AI into job titles.
Instead of creating entirely new positions, employers are often renaming familiar roles to reflect new workplace expectations. Examples highlighted in the research include positions such as "Physical Therapist (AI Documentation)," "AI Autonomous Truck Test Driver," and "Real Estate Agent — AI Lead System Included." Similar patterns are emerging across Europe, where HR managers, marketers, sales professionals, and trainers are increasingly expected to work with AI-powered tools, Indeed Hiring Lab reported.
The findings align with reporting from NBC News, which found employers are deliberately including AI in job titles to signal that candidates will be expected to use AI tools as part of their daily work rather than perform specialized technical development. The report cited Indeed Hiring Lab economist Sneha Puri, who said workers should view AI references in job titles as a clear indication that employers expect familiarity with AI software and workflows rather than advanced engineering expertise.
The expansion comes as the broader U.S. labor market remains soft. The economy added 57,000 jobs in June while hiring activity has stayed muted, creating what economists have described as a "low-hire, low-fire" environment in which employers are filling fewer positions and workers are changing jobs less frequently, NBC News reported.
The trend is also becoming more visible among graduates entering the workforce. Internship postings increasingly reference AI skills alongside traditional qualifications, particularly in technology, professional services and financial services.
Outside the United States, employers are making similar changes. In China, AI-related campus recruitment increased 47.3% year over year during the first five months of 2026, while AI-related positions accounted for nearly four in 10 graduate vacancies, according to recruitment platform Maimai, as reported by China Daily. More than 80% of campus recruitment openings at Alibaba this year involve AI-related work spanning large language models, AI infrastructure and AI applications, the newspaper reported.
The growing emphasis on AI also reflects broader changes in hiring priorities across industries. Technology recruitment specialists at Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council (MTLC) said demand has expanded beyond traditional machine learning engineers and researchers to include AI product managers, prompt engineers, ethics specialists, and professionals who can apply AI tools within existing business functions. The organization noted that employers increasingly value candidates who combine technical familiarity with communication, adaptability, and business knowledge.
