At a time when much of the technology sector is grappling with layoffs and shrinking job opportunities, IBM is moving in the opposite direction.
The legacy tech giant is set to triple its entry-level hiring in the United States this year, signaling a major shift in how companies are adapting to the rise of artificial intelligence.
According to a report by Bloomberg, IBM has redesigned its junior-level roles to focus on higher-value and more complex work, as AI increasingly takes over routine and repetitive tasks.
Rather than eliminating entry-level positions altogether, the company is reshaping them to align with an AI-driven workplace.
“Entry-level jobs that you had two to three years ago, AI can do most of them,” said Nickle LaMoreaux, IBM’s Chief Human Resources Officer.
She added that new hiring would take place “through totally different jobs,” reflecting the changing nature of work in the tech industry.
The move comes amid growing concern that AI and automation could shut young workers out of the job market by erasing traditional entry-level pathways.
For Gen Z jobseekers in particular, opportunities to break into the tech sector have become increasingly scarce as companies freeze hiring or cut costs.
IBM’s hiring push is therefore being seen as a rare bright spot.
By investing in redesigned roles that emphasize problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration with AI systems, the company is betting that early-career talent remains essential; even in an automated future.
Industry observers say IBM’s strategy could offer a blueprint for other tech firms struggling to balance efficiency gains from AI with the need to build the next generation of skilled workers.
If successful, it may help redefine what “entry-level” means in the age of artificial intelligence.
