Low pay for AI talent is driving skilled workers overseas, BOK warns

오삼일 한국은행 조사국 고용연구팀장이 5일 대한상공회의소에서 열린

SEOUL, December 05 (AJP) - South Korea offers the lowest wage premiums for artificial intelligence specialists among major advanced economies, placing the country at a disadvantage in the global battle for high-tech talent, the Bank of Korea said in a report released Friday.

The analysis, presented at a seminar co-hosted with the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, called for upgrading compensation systems and research environments to meet international standards.

Using data from LinkedIn profiles compiled by Revelio Labs, the report estimated South Korea had about 57,000 AI-skilled workers last year — more than double the 27,000 recorded in 2010 but far behind the United States (780,000), the United Kingdom (110,000) and France (70,000).

South Korean AI professionals earned only a 6 percent wage premium over non-AI workers, compared with 25 percent in the U.S. and 18 percent in Canada. Wage premiums were higher in specialized fields such as pattern recognition and neuroscience, but remained low in core areas such as deep learning and machine learning.

The weak premium has contributed to a persistent talent drain. Except for 2020, South Korea recorded a net outflow of AI professionals every year from 2010 to 2024. Last year, about 11,000 South Korean AI specialists were working overseas, including 6,300 in the U.S.

“The high rate of overseas employment among workers facing low domestic wage premiums suggests a clear link between compensation and international mobility,” said Oh Sam-il, one of the report’s authors. “South Korea is losing ground in the global competition for AI talent.”

Oh said rigid wage structures and intense global competition are suppressing domestic premiums. He urged the government and companies to focus on improving career development pathways and offering competitive compensation packages to retain and attract top-tier AI professionals.

* This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.
Seo Min-ji 기자 vitaminji@ajunews.com

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