The adoption of AI will shift the balance of the labor market in favor of experienced professionals – Bloomberg
A survey by the American consulting firm Oliver Wyman revealed a rapid shift in executives’ plans regarding workforce structure, characterized by massive cuts in entry-level positions in favor of hiring mid-level and senior staff due to the active implementation of artificial intelligence. More than 40% of company CEOs plan to reduce the number of entry-level positions over the next 1–2 years, while only 17% of respondents intend to increase the proportion of young employees.
This is reported by Bloomberg. The results are fully consistent with the findings of Harvard University researchers, who observed a trend toward eliminating entry-level positions in companies implementing generative AI, while maintaining stable employment for experienced staff.
The shift in employers’ priorities is explained by the fact that modern AI agents successfully automate the basic work of entry-level employees, ranging from writing initial code to evaluating potential clients. Experts emphasize that AI technologies are currently unable to replace critical thinking, complex problem-solving skills, and the ability to make strategic decisions—all of which are developed exclusively through years of practical experience. John Romeo, Director of the Oliver Wyman Forum, and consultant Ravin Jesuthasan confirm that businesses currently view experienced employees as the primary source of productivity gains, which significantly complicates employment prospects for people without experience.
At the same time, analysts caution companies against completely rejecting young professionals, as the lack of proper training for entry-level staff will, in the very near future, trigger a massive shortage of qualified top managers and mid-level professionals. According to a November study by Stanford University, young workers are 16% more likely to be laid off in sectors most dependent on AI, although experts note that there are no absolute guarantees of job security even for senior staff. Against this general trend, some corporations are taking the opposite approach, such as IBM, which announced its intention to triple hiring for entry-level positions in the U.S., adapting candidate requirements to the new technological realities in a world where tensions persist following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton stated that as early as 2026, artificial intelligence will be able to replace a significant number of professions, triggering a new wave of unemployment. This is significant because technology is advancing rapidly and is already displacing call center agents and programmers.
Google has launched a pilot test of a new interview format for candidates applying for software engineer positions, which allows the use of AI assistants.
