In 2023, researchers found large language models excelled at simple tasks at Boston Consulting Group but struggled with complex work. As generative AI automated basic tasks, many firms paused entry-level hiring. Now prospects are improving: a National Association of Colleges and Employers survey shows US companies plan to hire 5.6 per cent more graduates. Revelio Labs and Ramp found heavy AI adopters increased employment by 10 per cent and hire more entry-level staff.

Entry-level roles are being "seniorised" — a PwC analysis of 1bn job ads shows a 35 per cent rise since 2019 in postings requiring seasoned skills like data-driven decision-making. Salesforce is hiring 1,000 graduates for AI projects. Yet experts warn removing grunt work may deprive juniors of experience needed to oversee human-AI teams. At Pininfarina, designers still start with pencil sketches to avoid "bringing bias into the creativity."

Demand for "power skills" — creativity, empathy, judgment — has surged; PwC found new AI-related tasks are two and a half times more likely to require them. Gary Marcus warns AI dependence erodes critical thinking. Ben Zweig of Revelio Labs argues recent hiring dips stem from economic uncertainty, not AI. Meanwhile, AI tools are broadening talent pools beyond elite coders to humanities graduates.