Changing shape

Public relations specialists

Promote or create an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. May write or select material for release to various communications media. May specialize in using social media.

AI Resistance Index 12 of 99

Among the careers AI is changing fastest: more resilient than 12% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is very high (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it very high), and US jobs are projected to change by +1.8% by 2035, slower than average. The work leans on creative vision and emotional intelligence.

AI can do many of the tasks, and hiring is expected to grow slower than average or to shrink. The job is likely to change, so build the human parts of it.

Median pay (2025): $74,750
Job growth to 2035: +1.8%
Openings a year: 23,000
People doing it (2025): 314,000
Usual route in: Bachelor's degree

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Where people already use AI for this work

Write material for artistic or commercial purposes
Provide information or assistance to the public
Prepare informational or instructional materials

From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).

Work AI rarely helps with

Develop business or marketing plans
Communicate with others about business strategies
Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures

What the work looks like

Respond to requests for information from the media or designate an appropriate spokesperson or information source.
Plan or direct development or communication of programs to maintain favorable public or stockholder perceptions of an organization's accomplishments, agenda, or environmental responsibility.
Post and update content on the company's Web site and social media outlets.
Write press releases or other media communications to promote clients.
Establish or maintain cooperative relationships with representatives of community, consumer, employee, or public interest groups.

From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.

What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects

Fewer of these jobs, as public relations specialists increasingly use artificial intelligence (AI) tools for social media content. Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is also increasingly used in public relations to produce some content on its own, requiring less involvement of public relations specialists.

Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook

Management analystsGrows with AI, Index 49, +10.1%
Interior designersChanging shape, Index 56, +2.7%
Public relations managersGrows with AI, Index 41, +5.7%
Industrial-organizational psychologistsGrows with AI, Index 39, +6.5%

Also known as: Communications Specialist, Public Affairs Specialist, Public Information Officer, Public Relations Specialist (PR Specialist), Community Relations Coordinator, Corporate Communications Specialist, Information and Communications Specialist, Media Relations Specialist.

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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.