AI is associated with rising productivity expectations and changes to early career tasks, and is exposing gaps in workforce training.
Career Readiness

AI is reshaping entry-level work and the talent pipeline


Results from a new survey find AI is associated with rising productivity expectations and changes to early career tasks, and is exposing gaps in workforce training

Key points:

While entry-level hiring is not disappearing entirely, AI is beginning to influence the work traditionally assigned to early career professionals and is increasing expectations for what entry-level workers can produce from day one, according to a new report.

The Future of Work and Learning: GenAI Impact on Entry-Level Work, from D2L and Morning Consult, examines how U.S.–based HR leaders perceive generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to be influencing entry-level work, hiring strategies, and long-term talent development. The report also highlights perceived growing gaps in problem solving, interpersonal, and communication skills among junior professionals.

As organizations trade long-term talent development for short-term efficiency, they may risk weakening the talent pipeline that generates the on-the-job learning and experience needed for early career professionals to become future subject-matter experts and leaders.

Key points include:

  • Thirty percent of respondents say their organization’s talent acquisition strategy is shifting towards hiring fewer entry-level workers in favor of mid-level talent using AI to complete those same tasks.
  • Fifty-six percent say they are seeing a reduction in the number of basic tasks being delegated to early career professionals due to GenAI.
  • Among organizations planning a decrease (12 percent) in entry-level hiring in the next 24 months, 56 percent cite AI-driven automation of tasks as the primary driver, ahead of budget constraints (32 percent) and internal restructuring (28 percent).
  • Forty-eight percent say AI is increasing productivity expectations for entry-level roles, even when hiring levels are not changing.
  • Fifty-eight percent of respondents express concern that reducing entry-level roles due to AI could contribute to a shortage of qualified senior leaders within five years.
  • Seventy-four percent say they do not yet have active upskilling or employee development programs in place to replace the on-the-job learning being lost to AI automation.
  • HR leaders surveyed report perceiving relative declines in problem solving (75 percent), interpersonal (76 percent), and communication skills (78 percent) among recent entry-level hires compared to cohorts 3-5 years ago.

“The risk isn’t simply that AI changes aspects of entry-level hiring. It’s that it may reduce some of the foundational on-the-job learning that comes with the cognitive struggle and tasks inherent in entry-level work that people need to grow into experienced subject matter experts and future leaders,” said Sandy Rezendes, Head of Corporate Learning and Development at D2L. “Organizations may gain efficiency in the short term, but if they don’t also invest in intentional learning, upskilling, and development, they may risk creating a talent gap down the road as they’re not growing their own experienced workforce. This is a moment for employers to treat learning as a strategic investment in the future of their workforce.”

The report recommends that employers respond by investing in structured learning programs, internal apprenticeships and rotational opportunities, AI-enabled training simulations, and skills-based hiring practices that prioritize critical thinking, communication, and AI literacy. It also highlights several opportunities for higher education leaders to better prepare graduates for the AI-enabled workplace.

“Organizations are at an inflection point. AI is accelerating productivity, but it’s also disrupting the developmental pathways that have historically built expertise. Without intentional investment in learning, companies risk creating a long-term leadership gap,” said Michael Rochelle, Chief Strategy Officer at Brandon Hall Group, in response to The Future of Work and Learning: GenAI Impact on Entry-Level Work.

This press release originally appeared online.

Sign up for our newsletter

Newsletter: Innovations in K12 Education
By submitting your information, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

eCampus News Staff
Latest posts by eCampus News Staff (see all)