[Canada] AI-skilled staff offered greater salary premiums

In Canada, new research has revealed that employers are offering up to 15 per cent greater salary premiums for AI-skilled employees, HRD reports.

The findings come at a time when AI proficiency is emerging as one of the most valuable skills in the job market.

In its report, the Toronto-based HR consulting firm  Robert Half revealed that 81 per cent of employers are adjusting their compensation practices to attract new talent. 

This reportedly includes 32 per cent citing an offering of "significantly higher" pay to candidates with proven AI capabilities.

Speaking to HRD, Robert Half director Nicole Gorton said, "In practice, slightly higher would be five per cent more, significantly higher would be 10 to 15% more." 

Ms Gorton stated that the higher premiums offered to AI-skilled employees demonstrate how proficiency in the technology is reshaping employers' compensation structures.

The current challenge for employers is how they can provide appropriate compensation for AI-skilled talent.

The report’s findings saw 38 per cent of employers citing high market demand and competition for AI-skilled employees as a significant challenge in compensating AI‑proficient candidates.

"Companies know they need AI proficient talent, but they're racing to define what the skillset is worth, which is creating an uneven and fast-moving compensation landscape," Ms Gorton said.

Further challenges for employers include rapidly evolving skillsets (24 per cent) and the lack of internal salary benchmarks (10 per cent), Robert Half found.

"To get ahead, organisations should conduct regular market scans, revisit benchmarking tools, and consider long-term skill development strategies to future-proof their workforce planning," Ms Gorton said.

In addition, the report found that for 18 per cent of employers, budget constraints were their biggest barrier to compensating AI-skilled staff.

Ms Gorton told HRD that, to address this, employers can make alternative offers aside from pay.

"HR leaders can compete beyond salary by strengthening their employee value proposition and offering career growth, upskilling opportunities, flexible work, and access to meaningful, cutting-edge projects. Many professionals prioritise impact, learning, and environment just as much as pay when choosing where to work," she said.

Source: HRD

(Quotes via original reporting)

In Canada, new research has revealed that employers are offering up to 15 per cent greater salary premiums for AI-skilled employees, HRD reports.

The findings come at a time when AI proficiency is emerging as one of the most valuable skills in the job market.

In its report, the Toronto-based HR consulting firm  Robert Half revealed that 81 per cent of employers are adjusting their compensation practices to attract new talent. 

This reportedly includes 32 per cent citing an offering of "significantly higher" pay to candidates with proven AI capabilities.

Speaking to HRD, Robert Half director Nicole Gorton said, "In practice, slightly higher would be five per cent more, significantly higher would be 10 to 15% more." 

Ms Gorton stated that the higher premiums offered to AI-skilled employees demonstrate how proficiency in the technology is reshaping employers' compensation structures.

The current challenge for employers is how they can provide appropriate compensation for AI-skilled talent.

The report’s findings saw 38 per cent of employers citing high market demand and competition for AI-skilled employees as a significant challenge in compensating AI‑proficient candidates.

"Companies know they need AI proficient talent, but they're racing to define what the skillset is worth, which is creating an uneven and fast-moving compensation landscape," Ms Gorton said.

Further challenges for employers include rapidly evolving skillsets (24 per cent) and the lack of internal salary benchmarks (10 per cent), Robert Half found.

"To get ahead, organisations should conduct regular market scans, revisit benchmarking tools, and consider long-term skill development strategies to future-proof their workforce planning," Ms Gorton said.

In addition, the report found that for 18 per cent of employers, budget constraints were their biggest barrier to compensating AI-skilled staff.

Ms Gorton told HRD that, to address this, employers can make alternative offers aside from pay.

"HR leaders can compete beyond salary by strengthening their employee value proposition and offering career growth, upskilling opportunities, flexible work, and access to meaningful, cutting-edge projects. Many professionals prioritise impact, learning, and environment just as much as pay when choosing where to work," she said.

Source: HRD

(Quotes via original reporting)