IBM to Triple Entry-Level Hiring as AI Rewrites Junior Roles

IBM said it will triple entry-level hiring in the United States in 2026, even as artificial intelligence reshapes the tasks traditionally assigned to new graduates, according to Bloomberg News.

The expansion will be “across the board,” affecting a wide range of departments, though the company declined to disclose specific hiring figures, Bloomberg reported Thursday (Feb. 12).

Speaking at a conference in New York, IBM Chief Human Resources Officer Nickle LaMoreaux said the company overhauled entry-level job descriptions for software developers and other roles to support the recruitment push, according to Bloomberg.

She said entry-level jobs from two to three years ago can now largely be performed by AI, requiring companies to redefine the value new hires bring.

Bloomberg reported that junior software developers at IBM now spend less time on routine coding, which AI tools can handle, and more time working directly with customers.

In human resources, entry-level staff are increasingly tasked with intervening when HR chatbots fall short, correcting output and communicating with managers as needed.

The hiring push comes as broader concerns mount about whether artificial intelligence will reduce opportunities for early-career workers. Bloomberg noted that some executives have warned that a significant share of entry-level office jobs could disappear by 2030.

At the same time, IBM’s HR chief said that cutting early-career recruitment could create a future shortage of mid-level managers and force companies to rely more heavily on external hiring, which can be more costly and slower to integrate.

Bloomberg also reported that Dropbox plans to expand its internship and new graduate programs by 25%, with its chief people officer citing younger workers’ proficiency with AI tools. Together, the developments suggest that rather than eliminating entry-level roles outright, some companies are redesigning them around AI oversight, customer interaction and higher-value tasks.

At the same time, PYMNTS reported a growing debate over corporate layoffs attributed to AI, with some analysts warning of so-called “AI washing,” where companies use AI as a convenient justification for workforce cuts rather than reflecting actual technological implementation.

PYMNTS also described how executives use claims of AI efficiency to frame workforce reductions as strategic preparation for an AI-centered future, even as broader economic factors such as tariffs and softening consumer demand contribute to layoffs.

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