AI and entry-level jobs remain in focus as IBM plans to triple junior hiring in the US in 2026, even as automation expands. The company said roles are changing rather than disappearing, with more emphasis on client work and managing AI systems.
What changed in AI and entry level jobs
Entry-level roles are being redesigned at IBM as the company expands recruitment across departments. Bloomberg reported that International Business Machines Corp will increase entry-level hiring this year, although it has not shared exact numbers.
Nickle LaMoreaux, IBM’s Chief Human Resources Officer, said the company will still hire for roles that many believe AI can handle. She said AI may automate parts of junior work, but IBM does not see that as a reason to stop hiring new graduates.
AI automation and workforce reshaping junior roles
AI automation and workforce changes are shifting how early-career employees work inside large firms. LaMoreaux said many entry level jobs from two to three years ago now involve tasks that AI tools can complete.
At IBM, junior software engineers are spending less time on routine coding. Instead, they are working more directly with customers. In HR teams, entry-level staff are also stepping in when chatbots fail, correcting responses and supporting managers.
Industry anxiety and IBM’s talent pipeline view
Entry-level roles have become a wider concern across the technology sector. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warned last year that half of entry-level office roles could disappear by 2030. Elon Musk also said recently that coding may no longer be the primary task for software engineers by 2026.
IBM’s leadership has argued that cutting early-career hiring could weaken the future supply of mid-level managers. The company said long-term workforce planning still requires a steady pipeline of junior talent.
AI and entry level jobs outlook beyond the US
AI and entry-level jobs debates are also playing out in India. Staffing firm TeamLease said Indian companies may add 10–12 million jobs in 2026, compared with 8–10 million freshers hired in 2025.
The report said firms such as EY, Godrej Consumer Products, Diageo, Tata Motors and Motilal Oswal Financial Services are increasing recruitment, with focus areas including campus hiring and diversity.
