AI cuts deep into graduate hiring trends

A growing reliance on AI is reshaping the talent pipeline, with major accountancy and finance firms scaling back on graduate hires. The drop is raising concerns about a future shortage of experienced mid-level professionals—talent that’s critical to sustainable growth and operational depth.

While data engineering roles are on the rise, the shift is already changing the shape of recruitment. Contract roles are slowing as firms tighten budgets and explore offshore solutions. Meanwhile, the return-to-office trend is driving fresh demand for on-site business support staff.

These shifts underline a key tension in the workforce—between automation and human adaptability—and what that means for workforce planning across sectors.

Read the full article to explore how these changes could impact your long-term talent strategy.