Entry-Level Work Remains Essential: 94% of HR Leaders Expect AI to Create New Entry-Level Roles, Cognizant and Pearson Study Reveals

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Cognizant and Pearson joint study finds 6 in 10 HR leaders admit L&D programs are failing to keep pace as AI rapidly reshapes entry-level rolesTEANECK, N.J. and LONDON, June 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) and Pearson (FTSE: PSON.L) today revealed new findings from their joint study, The AI Workforce Pulse, signaling that entry-level roles are being reimagined by AI, and work is evolving faster than organizations can redesign how they hire, develop and support talent.The findings point to four interconnected shifts shaping the AI workforce ahead:Roles are Being ReinventedEntry-level roles are expected to evolve toward supervising and collaborating with AI systems rather than executing routine tasks.Nearly all (96%) HR leaders expect entry-level roles to evolve into positions where employees supervise or manage AI systems within the next five years.Nearly all HR professionals (94%) expect AI will generate new entry-level roles in the next five years that didn't exist before.More than 90% of respondents say middle managers are instrumental to redefining job roles as AI changes the day-to-day work of team members.Demand for AI Skills is Outpacing ReadinessWhile demand for AI training is accelerating, most organizations lack the learning infrastructure to keep pace.Ninety-one percent report employee requests for AI training have increased in the past year. Yet 46% of organizations are not proactively arranging AI training.Sixty percent say their company's learning and development programs cannot keep pace with how fast AI is transforming jobs.AI is Redefining Candidate PoolsAs AI takes on routine work, employers are shifting hiring toward non-traditional skillsets.Nearly seven-in-10 (69%) state broad, interdisciplinary backgrounds are more important for early career talent than deep, specialized skillsets or focused degrees.Two-in-three HR professionals (67%) report they value liberal arts degrees more than they used to in light of AI advancements.Nearly all (97%) report soft skills matter more than ever, reflecting a need for adaptability, problem-solving, and human judgment.The Race for AI-Ready Talent Is AcceleratingAcross industries, the rapid pace of AI adoption is creating a disconnect between the skills organizations have and the skills they need, making talent strategy one of the defining challenges of the moment.Sixty-...

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