Accenture is taking a proactive stance in hiring, planning to increase its entry-level workforce in 2026 compared to 2025. The company, which employs around 786,000 people globally, believes that recent graduates, particularly those from Gen Z who have grown up using AI tools like ChatGPT, will bring essential skills to the workplace. Beck Bailey, Accenture's global chief diversity officer, stated, "We’ve made a commitment to hire more entry-level people this year than we did last year," emphasizing the importance of AI fluency in today's job market. CEO Julie Sweet echoed this sentiment, noting that entry-level positions are vital for creating experienced professionals and adapting to an AI-driven environment.

In contrast, other companies such as PwC are cutting back on entry-level hiring, reducing their U.S. recruitment goals significantly. A recent Stanford University study indicated that professions such as operations managers and customer service representatives are particularly vulnerable to automation, with a 13% decline in employment in these roles since 2022. This highlights a significant divide in how different companies are responding to the evolving landscape of work influenced by AI.