Artificial intelligence could create hundreds of thousands of new jobs in Yorkshire and the Humber.
According to new research published by the University of York, AI adoption and upskilling could boost the region’s economy by £38 billion and generate up to 379,000 jobs by 2030.
The report, Supercharging Yorkshire & Humber: Unlocking £38 billion in growth through AI, skills and system scale integrated planning, was launched by the University of York in partnership with global higher education analyst QS and consultancy Public First.
Joan Concannon, chief reputation and stakeholder relations officer at the University of York, said: "Devolution offers an extraordinary, generational opportunity to align higher education with regional economic prosperity.
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"This report provides a key focus on the demand and supply side labour market data to empower our mayors to realise a £38 billion regional economic growth opportunity.
"But it also highlights the critical urgency of a shared plan to navigate severe demographic pressures – including an ageing population where retirees outnumber the economically active – and the resulting urgent need to retain more graduates in our region.
"There is clear scope for mayors and universities across the region to collaborate further, ensuring Yorkshire and the Humber have a talented workforce to lead innovation in the digital revolution we are navigating."
The report analyses nearly 2,000 occupations and more than 40,000 skills, mapping how AI, automation, and the green transition could reshape the regional labour market.
It calls for greater collaboration between mayors, higher education, and industry to ensure Yorkshire and the Humber can capitalise on its economic potential.
The University says more than 80% of critical roles (and 92% of the top 280 priority high growth occupations) across the core Industrial Strategy sectors require degree-level qualifications or higher.
While technical Level 4/5 apprenticeships provide a vital foundation, data reveals how integrating higher education and degree-level training into regional growth strategies will ensure the UK fully captures multi-billion-pound growth opportunities.
The research also identifies acute talent shortages, including a shortfall of 2,160 engineering graduates per year, rising to 3,470 under high AI adoption.
There is also a need for 900 more computing graduates and 700 in education and specialist leadership.
Nunzio Quacquarelli, president and founder of QS Quacquarelli Symonds, said: "By understanding how AI could change work in each place, we can do more than prepare for the future.
"We can help shape a future worthy of the people whose lives it will change.
"Proactively capturing the potential of AI augmentation will be critical to the region’s growth.
"Achieving this will require collaboration between mayors, educational institutions and employers, with support at national level."
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