KIRKLAND, Wash. – New findings from a recently released survey of nearly 1,000 U.S. business leaders found that 21% of companies have already frozen entry-level hiring because of artificial intelligence. 

By the end of 2026, 36% say they will have stopped hiring entry-level workers. And by 2027, nearly half (47%) expect entry-level hiring to be eliminated at their company, according to the survey from Resume.org, a platform for building a resume.

Twenty-one percent of companies said AI is the sole reason they are eliminating roles; 19% said it is the primary driver; and 26% said it is one of several contributing factors.

Companies are not only slowing hiring but also removing existing roles. Twelve percent said AI has already eliminated entry-level positions at their organization, and another 21% expect those roles to disappear before the end of the year. Combined, about one-third of companies anticipate eliminating entry-level roles by the end of 2026.

Mid- and senior-level jobs are also being affected, though the changes appear to be unfolding more gradually. Eleven percent of companies said AI has already eliminated midlevel roles, and 10% report the same for senior-level positions. By the end of the year, those figures are expected to reach 24% for midlevel roles and 26% for senior-level roles.

Some companies said AI-driven efficiency has already changed how they allocate hiring budgets. While companies are reducing hiring in some areas, they are increasing hiring in others. Forty-seven percent said they are hiring more technical or AI-focused employees this year, and 48% said they are hiring more workers who can effectively use AI tools.

“Employees without AI skills risk being sidelined as technologies augment or replace traditional functions,” said Kara Dennison, head of career advising at Resume.org. “AI skills matter for two reasons: relevance and leverage.”

The survey also found that companies expect AI to drive layoffs in the near future. More than half (51%) of business leaders said their company will lay off workers in 2026 specifically because AI is consolidating or eliminating roles. Twenty-nine percent said layoffs have already occurred, while 22% said they plan to conduct them next year.

The full report can be found HERE.