80.2% of high-class managers say AI skills affect market value: JAC Recruitment survey

The survey, conducted by JAC Recruitment from July 2 to July 6, 2026, targeted 1,010 managers aged 30–50 who have changed jobs. It follows a previous survey of corporate recruiters, in which 89.5% said AI skills affect offer salaries. That prior finding showed companies already tie AI skills to pay, while also struggling to hire people with the desired skill level.

The new results reveal a mismatch. On the individual side, 80.2% of high-class managers recognize AI skills as affecting their market value, and 87.8% use AI tools at least weekly. But only 28.7% say they can use AI for problem-setting and issue clarification, and 23.5% are involved in AI-assisted decision-making. Companies, by contrast, rank 'ability to identify AI application areas and set problems' as the second most sought-after skill, cited by 38.1% of recruiters.

Organizational expectations add pressure. 37.4% of managers say their organization expects them to manage and instruct subordinates in AI use. Yet just 24.5% feel they can lead AI use in generating business or project outcomes, and about 40% are not specifically involved in their subordinates' AI use. The survey also points to structural hurdles: 33.1% cite not knowing good learning methods amid information overload, and 30.5% cite securing learning time. These are difficulties individuals cannot easily resolve alone, suggesting company-provided learning opportunities and on-the-job AI application may be needed to close the gap.