The States Showing the Sharpest Rise in Demand for AI Skills in the Job Market
AI skills are no longer being written into job ads only in the biggest US markets. Our latest analysis found that some smaller states are showing some of the strongest concentrations of AI-related hiring requirements across both tech and finance.
Using a single-day snapshot of live job listings across all 50 states, we measured how often selected AI-related skills appeared in tech and finance job ads as a share of each state’s total sector listings. That gave us a practical way to test where AI is becoming part of the role itself, not just an added bonus.
Matthew May, CPA, accounting services leader at Acuity explains: “What stands out is that this is not just a Silicon Valley or Manhattan story. In several smaller state markets, employers are already signaling that workers need to know how to use AI tools as part of doing the job, not as a niche technical specialism.”
Where AI skill demand is most concentrated
We analyzed finance and tech job listings by state to see where AI skills were appearing most often as a share of total advertised roles.
AI Adoption in Statewide Job Markets (Tech and Finance Roles) | |||
Local Tech Role Requirements | |||
Rank | State | Total Tech Jobs | AI Skill Requirement (%) |
1 | Delaware | 2,070 | 14.40% |
2 | Alaska | 1,410 | 14.11% |
3 | New York | 16,010 | 13.95% |
4 | Arkansas | 3,017 | 13.76% |
5 | North Dakota | 1,493 | 13.33% |
6 | South Dakota | 1,635 | 13.03% |
7 | Montana | 1,550 | 12.90% |
8 | Maine | 1,756 | 12.70% |
9 | West Virginia | 1,798 | 12.51% |
10 | Idaho | 2,123 | 12.01% |
Local Finance Role Requirements | |||
Rank | State | Total Finance Jobs | AI Skill Requirement (%) |
1 | Delaware | 1,066 | 4.41% |
2 | West Virginia | 629 | 3.34% |
3 | Montana | 653 | 3.22% |
4 | North Dakota | 691 | 3.18% |
5 | Alaska | 679 | 2.95% |
6 | South Dakota | 720 | 2.92% |
7 | Rhode Island | 804 | 2.86% |
8 | Idaho | 959 | 2.50% |
9 | Maine | 875 | 2.40% |
10 | New Hampshire | 950 | 2.32% |
A meaningful share of job ads in several smaller state markets now include AI skills as part of the role.
In finance, Delaware ranked first, with AI skills appearing in 4.41% of listings, or roughly 4 in every 100 finance jobs. West Virginia followed at 3.34%, which is about 3 in 100 jobs, while Montana recorded 3.22%, also around 3 in 100. North Dakota came in at 3.18%, again about 3 in 100, and Alaska posted 2.95%, just under 3 in 100 finance roles.
In tech, the pattern was much stronger. Delaware again ranked first, with 14.40% of tech listings mentioning AI skills, equivalent to about 14 in every 100 jobs. Alaska followed at 14.11%, also around 14 in 100, while New York combined scale with intensity at 13.95%, again roughly 14 in 100. Arkansas recorded 13.76%, or close to 14 in 100, and North Dakota posted 13.33%, which works out to around 13 in every 100 tech jobs.
May said this is where the data becomes more telling. “Once you see around 13 or 14 in every 100 tech jobs calling for AI skills, that is no longer a niche requirement. It is a strong sign that AI capability is becoming part of the baseline expectation in the labour market. Even in finance, where the proportions are smaller, states with 3 or 4 in every 100 jobs asking for AI still point to a meaningful shift in how roles are being defined.”
What the state rankings suggest about the labour market
The findings suggest AI hiring is not only growing in major economic centers, but is also becoming embedded in the structure of job ads across a wider spread of US states. We used the tech and finance sectors as sample industries to test where AI skills are becoming part of the role itself, and the results show that some smaller markets are recording some of the highest concentrations.
That matters because it points to a broader change in employer expectations, not just isolated demand in traditional tech hubs. In other words, this is not only a story about the biggest economies or the largest volumes of jobs. It is also a story about where AI is becoming visibly normalised in everyday hiring language.
May said the rankings should not be read as a measure of which state has the biggest economy, but which markets are showing the clearest signs of AI being written into job descriptions. “A smaller state does not need the largest number of jobs to show a strong shift. What matters here is the share of listings that now mention AI. That is why places like Delaware, Alaska and North Dakota stand out. They suggest AI is becoming part of day-to-day employability, not just a specialist skill for a narrow band of roles.”
He adds that the trend has practical consequences for both businesses and workers. “For employers, this shows AI adoption is beginning to shape hiring criteria in a visible way. For candidates, it means AI literacy is increasingly becoming part of being job-ready, especially in sectors like tech and finance where employers are looking for faster decision-making, stronger analysis and greater efficiency.”
How we measured it
We analyzed a single-day snapshot of live Adzuna job listings across 50 US states to measure where AI skills appeared most often in tech and finance job ads. AI penetration was calculated as the share of sector listings mentioning selected AI-related keywords. Rankings used Adzuna data only, applied minimum listing thresholds, and used a conservative max single-phrase method to reduce double-counting.
Why this matters for business owners
For business owners, the wider takeaway is straightforward: AI is increasingly showing up in hiring criteria, even outside the biggest markets. As expectations shift, employers may need to think more carefully about the skills they hire for and the systems they put in place to support teams using new tools.
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