GoKawiilKey Takeaways Companies are split on AI’s impact: Some, like PwC, are cutting junior roles, while others are expanding or enhancing them rather than eliminating jobs entirely.
Accenture is hiring more entry-level workers in 2026 than in 2025, betting that recent graduates who grew up using ChatGPT bring crucial AI fluency to the workforce.
Accenture’s global chief diversity officer, Beck Bailey, and CEO Julie Sweet recently spoke about the commitment.
Leaders are sharply divided over AI’s impact on entry-level employment. Some forecast mass job displacement, while others predict expanded opportunities for recent graduates. Accenture lands on the optimistic side of the debate, with global chief diversity officer Beck Bailey recently announcing that the global technology consulting company is increasing its intake of Gen Z workers this year.
“We’ve made a commitment to hire more entry-level people this year than we did last year,” Bailey recently told Fortune. “Our reasoning is that if you think about the folks who are graduating college this year, they entered college with ChatGPT… We want them in our workforce now to help us.”
Accenture employs around 786,000 workers globally. Bailey echoed CEO Julie Sweet’s remarks. Speaking on the Rapid Response podcast in March, Sweet said that Accenture is hiring “more entry-level jobs this year than we did last year” in all of its major markets.
Sweet’s rationale was similar to Bailey’s. She said that recent graduates are better prepared for an AI-driven workplace because they use AI constantly. “The number one advantage for the college graduates we are bringing is that they are much more AI-fluent than someone who has even been here two or three years,” Sweet said on the podcast.
Julie Sweet, CEO of Accenture. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
“Entry-level jobs are important economically,” Sweet said. “It’s how we create more experienced people.” Rather than eliminating junior positions due to AI, Sweet said Accenture is redesigning roles and has revamped training for recruits to focus on communication, strategic thinking and AI fluency.
Other employers are pulling back
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