Job ads use AI and engineer titles more often, even for non-tech work

In short: More job ads are using titles like “engineer” and “AI” roles, even when the day to day work is not very technical.

What's going on

LinkedIn says US job listings for titles such as “growth engineer”, “go-to-market engineer”, “solutions architect” and “operations engineer” rose 54 per cent between 2023 and 2025. That equals more than 400,000 new roles posted. The Financial Times reports that the Big Four accounting firms in English-speaking countries posted more ads for AI specialists than for auditors last year.

But these titles do not always match the actual work. LinkedIn’s Kory Kantenga says there is “title inflation”, meaning a job name sounds more technical than the role really is. He says employers use technical language because it can carry more status, even if the job has not fully changed.

Indeed also sees AI terms spreading beyond traditional tech jobs. Its senior economist Jack Kennedy says “AI” now shows up more in job titles outside tech than within it. In the US, Indeed found that 63 per cent of jobs with “AI” in the title are outside the technology sector, including roles like “physical therapist (AI documentation)”.

What to watch

Some ads mention AI without explaining what it means in practice. Indeed found that nearly 74 per cent of postings mentioned AI, but about one quarter gave little context, which the report called “shallow mentions” (like name-dropping a brand to sound current).

This wording can also affect who applies. The article notes research suggesting women are less likely to apply if they do not meet every requirement, so inflated titles and long lists of criteria may shrink the applicant pool.

Source: Financial Times