A breakdown of AI Jobs by generations: Boomers are still running the show

As artificial intelligence dominates tech headlines, a new report asks a more fundamental question: Who’s actually building it? According to a new labor market analysis by DesignRush, Baby Boomers, not Gen Z or even Millennials, hold the most top-tier jobs in the U.S. AI workforce.

Drawing from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2025 labor force data, the report offers a first-of-its-kind generational breakdown of the five most AI-adjacent job roles in the U.S., from software development to systems management.

The key takeaway? AI may be the future, but it’s being built by those with decades of experience.

Millennials: The core builders

Software development stands as the most prevalent AI job in the U.S., with over 2.07 million professionals. Millennials are at the forefront of this crucial sector, commanding 35.7% of these roles, totaling a remarkable 742,000 individuals.

These professionals, typically in their late 20s to early 30s, are the "core engine" of today's AI ecosystem, actively building machine learning models, infrastructure, and AI-driven applications.

That said, Gen X and Boomers combined still account for over 58% of the developer workforce, highlighting the enduring presence of experienced talent. Gen Z, while holding a smaller 6.3% of AI development roles, is rapidly increasing their presence, especially in junior development, QA, and AI automation oversight.

The report also notes the accelerating adoption of AI coding assistants, with 92% of U.S. developers now utilizing them.

Boomers and Gen X: The decision-makers and backbone

The leadership landscape within AI is distinctly older. Computer and Information Systems Managers, the decision-makers behind AI infrastructure, security, and IT strategy, are overwhelmingly dominated by Gen X and Boomers, who together hold 87% of these senior positions.

Boomers alone account for a staggering 54.8%, while Gen X leads with 32.2%. Millennials hold a mere 12.6%, and Gen Z's presence is negligible. This generational divide in leadership may contribute to a perceived lag in AI maturity among companies, as only 1% consider themselves AI-mature, according to McKinsey.

Boomers also lead in Computer Support Specialist roles, making up nearly 40% of the 633,000 professionals in this third-largest AI-related job.

Gen Z: The future analysts and innovators

While smaller in number, Gen Z's influence is notable in Computer Systems Analyst roles. They constitute 8.5% of the 547,000 analysts, a higher percentage than in any other AI job analyzed.

This suggests that younger workers are increasingly entering the AI field through analysis, product operations, and SaaS tool implementation, indicating a broadening scope of entry points beyond pure engineering. This generation also brings new expectations for flexible and balanced workplaces, which AI teams will need to address as they scale.

In Mechanical Engineering, essential for the physical aspects of AI like robotics and IoT devices, Boomers still lead with 39.3% of the 389,000 jobs. However, Millennials are rapidly closing the gap at 32.9%, with Gen Z (6.2%) typically entering through robotics and automation-focused programs.

Why this data matters

For companies hiring, scaling, or building AI products, this data acts like a cheat code. It shows not only where talent currently sits, but where it’s headed:

• Millennials are driving execution.

• Gen X ensures operational stability.

• Boomers bring experience and leadership.

• Gen Z is the future - digital natives eager to shape what comes next.

“If I’m building an AI team today, I want the energy of Gen Z, the muscle of Millennials, and the structure that Gen X and Boomers bring. AI tools are evolving fast. But the people behind them matter more,” concluded Gianluca Ferruggia, General Manager at DesignRush