AI Hits Entry-Level Hiring as Firms Favor Senior Staff With AI Over Training Graduates, Study Finds

The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report, published in 2023, said the adoption of AI and automation would eliminate large numbers of entry-level white-collar jobs worldwide. The shift is prompting companies to radically reshape their hiring structures and reduce training-oriented roles such as internships and administrative positions. As employers increasingly seek candidates who can contribute immediately, recent graduates are losing opportunities to gain early-career experience. This will not only worsen youth unemployment but also create long-term gaps in corporate talent pipelines.

According to a TechNews report published on July 11, 2026, wider AI adoption is accelerating a trend in which experienced workers take lower-level positions, further squeezing job opportunities for new graduates. Data compiled by 104 Job Bank in May 2026 showed that while AI engineers earned a median monthly salary of NT$69,000, 75% of companies placed greater value on practical skills and the ability to contribute immediately. With experienced workers using AI tools to absorb entry-level work, newcomers without experience face an unprecedentedly difficult fight to establish their careers.