NEW YORK — Artificial intelligence may be reshaping the workplace in a way that favors more experienced employees, as companies increasingly look to reduce entry-level positions while relying more heavily on mid- and senior-level workers, according to a new survey by consulting firm Oliver Wyman cited in a report by Bloomberg.
The survey found that more than 40% of chief executives plan to reduce junior roles over the next one to two years while increasing the share of mid-level and senior employees in their workforces, Bloomberg reported Saturday, citing research released last month by Oliver Wyman.
Junior Positions Targeted
By contrast, only 17% of CEOs said they expect junior positions to make up a larger share of their staffing mix. Bloomberg said the findings marked a reversal from last year’s survey, when companies were more inclined to shift toward hiring more junior workers.
“I think the junior level is definitely finding it harder now to enter the workforce,” John Romeo, head of Oliver Wyman’s research arm, told Bloomberg. “It’s those mid- and senior-level employees that CEOs are now looking at to drive productivity.”
According to Bloomberg, executives increasingly believe AI systems can handle many of the tasks traditionally assigned to entry-level employees, including coding and other repetitive or process-driven work. However, the report noted that AI tools still struggle with judgment-based decisions and strategic thinking that often rely on years of professional experience.
‘Deepening Divide’
The survey also pointed to what Oliver Wyman described as a “deepening” divide in corporate AI adoption.
About two-thirds of companies surveyed said their AI efforts remain in the planning or pilot phase, while 53% said it is still too early to determine whether the technology is generating a return on investment. That compares with 41% in last year’s survey, according to the report.
At the same time, companies that have expanded AI deployment across multiple business functions are seeing stronger results, the report said.
‘Twice the ROI’
“Yet those scaling AI across two or more use cases report roughly twice the ROI, measured in both cost savings and revenue gains,” Oliver Wyman said in the report cited by Bloomberg. “Size is critical, too: Nearly five times as many mega-size companies report AI-driven cost savings above 10% compared with their midsize peers.”
The report also found growing expectations that AI will reshape workforce needs rather than simply eliminate jobs. Roughly half of surveyed chief financial officers said they expect AI to create new positions requiring different skills, even as 47% anticipate job reductions tied to automation and AI adoption.
