Last Updated on: 4th June 2025, 11:22 am
The Barrett Group has revealed a significant increase in the number of financial services executives acquiring artificial intelligence expertise — up by 80% in the past year alone.
This sharp rise underscores the growing importance of digital literacy within the financial sector. Executives in Banking, Investment Banking, and International Trade and Development have led the way, with AI skill acquisition growing by 153%, 136%, and 141% respectively compared to the previous year.
According to The Barrett Group — a top-tier executive career management consultancy — approximately 1.3 million professionals operate at executive level within the financial services market globally.
In 2024, the industry saw an estimated 100,000 executive-level opportunities, driven by a 3% increase in the executive workforce and nearly 59,000 job changes. The firm anticipates continued strong demand for executives who can adapt quickly and embrace technological change.
“All in all, the conditions appear to be relatively positive for continued growth in the overall Financial Services sector, whether due to increasing penetration in an increasingly wealthy population, lower inflation, improving access to capital, almost unlimited innovation, the potential benefits of harnessing AI more widely… the list goes on,” said Peter Irish, chairman of The Barrett Group. However, he notes, “Political upheaval, geopolitical tensions, regulation, and global warming, on the other hand, certainly represent challenges to all of this positive momentum.”
The Barrett Group offers a wealth of intelligence to support its clients’ career decisions, combining rigorous industry research with tailored coaching. Its monthly Industry Updates track major developments across sectors, providing valuable foresight into workforce trends, hiring patterns, and emerging technologies.
What distinguishes The Barrett Group from conventional recruiters is its candidate-first approach. Rather than serving employers, it partners with executives to redefine their career trajectories. The firm provides end-to-end support — from identifying ideal roles and negotiating salaries to repositioning within the job market. Clients who follow its proven methodology benefit from a 90% success rate.
Recognised by Forbes as one of the best executive recruitment firms in the US since 2020, The Barrett Group has also earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and a 4.6-star rating on Google. Over 80 client success stories further highlight its impact and effectiveness.
