Korn Ferry Report: AI Isn't Eliminating the Entry-level Job, It's Redefining It

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AMS, A Korn Ferry Company (NYSE:KFY), has revealed new global research showing that 81% of employers plan to increase early-career hiring, underlining its importance to future growth as AI reshapes junior roles around judgment, problem-solving and oversight.

As AI takes on more routine work, entry-level roles are evolving, changing what early-career employees do and the skills they need to succeed. Organizations now need to plan for what that shift means for their workforce, from the roles and skills they will need to how they develop the next generation of talent.

The Class of 2030: The future of early careers hiring report draws on research with more than 5,000 candidates and 500 HR and talent acquisition leaders across 13 countries, examining how organizations and the next generation of workers are preparing for an AI-powered workplace.

Entry-level talent remains central to growth. Contrary to fears that AI will eliminate the first rung of the career ladder, Korn Ferry found:

• 81% of organizations plan to increase early-career hiring over the next two years.
• 76% of talent acquisition leaders say entry-level jobs are not disappearing from their organizations.
• Nearly three-quarters of organizations believe entry-level work will change rather than be eliminated, although roughly half do not yet know what that change will look like.
• Pacesetter organizations that outperform their peers on revenue growth and profitability are more likely to recognize the continued importance of entry-level work and early-career talent to their 2030 strategy.

The shift is already beginning. Junior employees at some leading organizations are moving away from repetitive execution and toward work that involves researching and synthesizing information with AI, analyzing data, testing AI-generated outputs, automating workflows and applying human judgment to AI-generated work.

“Entry-level hiring is fundamental to the health of any organization. It is how you bring in new skills, fresh thinking and build the talent you are going to rely on in the future. Our research shows employers recognize that, with 81% planning to increase early-career hiring over the next two years,” said Susan Major, Global Managing Director of Early Careers and Campus at AMS, A Korn Ferry Company. “The roles themselves are evolving, and that makes investing in young talent even more important. Organizations need to think now about the people and skills they will need to grow and make sure they are creating the opportunities for those capabilities to develop.”

About the Research

The research is based on two quantitative surveys designed to compare the expectations of future workers with the priorities and practices of employers preparing for 2030. The employee and job seeker survey included more than 5,000 respondents across 13 countries, with particular analysis of students and early-career candidates aged 16 to 24. The employer research surveyed more than 500 CHROs, talent acquisition executives and senior HR leaders across 13 countries and 14 industries. The surveys were conducted in collaboration with Phronesis Partners.

About Korn Ferry

AMS, a market-leading provider of talent acquisition and workforce solutions, is now part of Korn Ferry. Korn Ferry is a global consulting firm that powers performance. We unlock the potential in your people and unleash transformation across your business, synchronizing strategy, operations and talent to accelerate performance, fuel growth and inspire a legacy of change. That is why the world’s most forward-thinking companies across every major industry turn to us for a shared commitment to lasting impact and the bold ambition to Be More Than.

As the Official Talent & Organizational Consulting Partner of LA28, Korn Ferry is powering the nearly 5,000 people who power the Olympic Games, bringing in the right talent, building strong leaders, and shaping the structure and culture that will deliver an unforgettable experience for the world.