WEF & PwC: AI and the future of entry-level work, safeguarding and reinventing early-career pathways

The report was published on 22 June 2026 and rests on global labour data, senior leader interviews and a PwC survey of more than 9,000 entry-level workers in 48 countries. It estimates that 37% of young workers hold jobs with medium to high exposure to AI-driven task change. Among those surveyed, 68% said AI made them more productive, yet 45% reported working more hours and 28% expected half or fewer of their current skills to stay relevant within three years. The report also cites a 16% drop in US employment for workers aged 22 to 25 in the most exposed jobs since late 2022. It does not urge slower adoption. It reports that firms redesigning work alongside AI deployment are twice as likely to post strong financial results. The findings follow PwC's 2026 AI Jobs Barometer, which described "seniorization": AI-exposed entry-level postings are seven times more likely to demand judgement and leadership skills. Those postings are up 35% since 2019, while other entry-level roles fell 10%. A Harvard working paper found junior hiring fell nearly 8% at AI-adopting firms. For AI founders, the pipeline argument shapes the buyer's concerns. Customers are being pushed to show that automation does not hollow out future managers. Products that train juniors or reshape their tasks, rather than only replace them, fit that pressure and may face less procurement resistance.