In the Age of AI: The Hottest Degrees After ChatGPT

The first hiring cycles of the generative-AI era are reshaping what students study. Employer surveys and labor data point to strong demand for degrees in AI and data, cybersecurity, healthcare, teacher education, and power and electrical engineering. The signals are consistent across regions. Technology is spreading fast, and human-centric services are facing chronic shortages.

What Employers Say They Need

The World Economic Forum’s 2025 Future of Jobs survey, covering more than 1,000 large employers, ranks AI and big data as the fastest-rising skill group, with networks and cyber security close behind. Employers also expect creative and analytical thinking to grow in importance. Nearly two in five core skills are set to change by 2030.

LinkedIn’s 2025 “Jobs on the Rise” lists AI engineers among the world’s fastest-growing roles, underscoring the shift from general software hiring to AI-fluent talent.

Students should read labor signals, not headlines. Pick a program that builds durable skills in AI, data, security, or health. Then add communication and teamwork, because employers are screening for both.

Courses Heating Up

AI, Data Science, and Computer Science

Degree and master’s pathways focused on machine learning, data engineering, and applied AI are clear winners. Companies report rapid adoption of AI at work, and they cite skill gaps as a top barrier to execution.

Cybersecurity

Organizations face a large and growing talent shortfall. The latest ISC2 study estimates 5.5 million people work in cyber worldwide, yet the workforce gap is roughly 4.8 million. Programs in security engineering, cloud security, and AI security are in demand.

Healthcare and Nursing

Health systems are short on people. The WHO projects an 11-million global health-worker shortfall by 2030, and the U.S. projects steady registered-nurse employment growth through 2034.

Teacher Education and EdTech

Education systems face a chronic teacher deficit. UNESCO estimates the world will need about 44 million additional primary and secondary teachers by 2030. Universities and ministries are also publishing guidance to integrate AI responsibly into teaching and learning.

Electrical, Power, and Energy Systems

AI’s growth depends on physical infrastructure. The IEA expects global data-centre electricity use to roughly double by 2030, while U.S. power demand hits records as data-centre build-outs accelerate. That supports degrees in electrical engineering, power systems, grid modernization, and energy management.

The AI economy runs on people and power. We need AI scientists and cyber defenders, but we also need grid engineers and technicians to keep data centers online. Students who pair digital skills with domain depth will have an edge.

Human-Centric Roles Stay Resilient

Automation is rising, but most jobs mix tasks that can and cannot be automated. McKinsey estimates current technologies, including generative AI, could automate activities that take 60–70% of employees’ time. Human skills, judgment, and care still matter.

Mental health care is in high demand. WHO estimates around 970 million people worldwide struggle with a mental health condition, which means there is a steady need for trained psychologists, counselors, and social workers.

Advice for the Post-ChatGPT Generation

For students choosing programs now, look for a program with hands-on projects, clinical hours, and capstones tied to real problems. Even in non-tech degrees, students must seek courses on AI literacy, data ethics, and cybersecurity basics. Sector bodies and universities are rolling out guidance to help educators adopt AI responsibly in classrooms.

The winning profile is T-shaped. Go deep in one field employers need, like AI, nursing, or teaching. Then learn to use AI tools to work faster, document better and collaborate across borders. That is how graduates signal job-readiness.

AI is not squeezing degree value. It is reshaping the mix. Programs in AI and data, cybersecurity, healthcare, teacher education, and energy systems are positioned for strong demand over the next five years. Students who combine technical fluency with human skills will be best placed to thrive.

About the Author

Sanjay Laul

Founder of MSM Unify