51.7% of companies plan to cut junior hiring due to AI adoption

A survey of 51.7% of companies expect to reduce entry-level job opportunities as they implement artificial intelligence, according to the Digital Talent Barometer 2026 study presented at the Digital Talent Summit in Madrid. Rather than mass layoffs, companies plan to moderate new hiring (35.4%) over direct job cuts (17.1%). This creates a "junior squeeze" blocking entry routes to the labor market. Administrative roles face the highest vulnerability at 50.7%. The research also found companies are advancing AI faster than their staff can prepare - 79.2% acknowledge insufficient employee preparation despite 77.8% adopting AI. This dispatch matters because entry-level hiring freezes may reshape how young professionals access careers across sectors.