May 6, 2025 | In the News

Tariffs Pushing U.S. Auto Giants to Ramp Up AI and Data Hiring

U.S tariffs have been much discussed as a potential driver of consumer price changes this year, but one surprising effect of the ongoing trade war is a major surge in demand for AI and data experts in the auto industry.

USA Today published an article this month from the Detroit Free Press spotlighting the urgent need among automakers to staff up on data and AI experts who can help them navigate major supply-chain changes.

Featured at the top of the article is Qlik CEO Mike Capone, who has been inundated with calls from auto executives seeking help. Qlik specializes in AI-driven supply-chain analysis tools. “The competition for resources is fierce, especially when you have the intersection of data science and automotive supply chain. Those people are very valuable right now,” Capone told the publication.

The article also cites a survey conducted earlier this year by Wakefield Research for Qlik in which 500 supply chain and procurement professionals weighed in on the impacts of tariff disruptions and the use of AI in supply-chain reliant industries.

In the custom survey, 76% of these professionals credited new tariffs for increasing their job security. Also among the survey’s findings: three-fourths of executives (75%) said they’re highly concerned on the effects tariff’s will have on their business and daily operations.