What 500 executives predict about AI and hiring in 2026
The panic about AI stealing jobs might be overblown. According to a report from global employment platform G-P, 41% of U.S. executives believe AI will remove barriers and reduce the complexity of hiring and managing global teams in 2026—fundamentally changing how and where companies compete for talent. Only 22% think AI will replace too many jobs too quickly.
The economic outlook shapes hiring plans
Executives show measured confidence about 2026’s economic conditions, with 72% feeling completely or mostly confident that conditions will support business growth. This cautious optimism translates directly into workforce planning: Forty-seven percent of executives expect to maintain current staffing levels, while 32% plan to expand headcount and invest in new roles. Another 14% will slow hiring, and 7% anticipate reducing headcount or delaying backfills.
The threats keeping executives up at night tell a different story than typical AI doomsday scenarios. Rising costs and inflation pressures top the list at 53%, followed by talent shortages in critical roles at 48%. AI and automation reshaping workforce needs ranks fourth at 46%, tied with increased competition and behind global instability or trade uncertainty at 44%.
Entry-level positions will grow, not shrink
Here’s where the research challenges conventional wisdom: Sixty-eight percent of executives expect more entry-level roles in 2026. Specifically, 45% predict an increase in AI-assisted roles where junior employees partner with AI to produce higher-value work. Another 23% foresee growth in client-facing entry roles that emphasize communication and problem-solving over technical skills. Only 2% believe AI will replace many traditional entry-level positions.
Government policies will reshape where companies find talent. Changes in visa policies will push 47% of companies toward domestic hiring, while 21% will shift toward international hiring. Another 26% plan no change in hiring practices but recognize that they may need to stay nimble and adapt.
Leadership demands new capabilities
Executives identify two equal top challenges for 2026: attracting and retaining the right talent in a competitive landscape and staying ahead of rapid technological advancements like AI and automation—both cited by 54% of respondents. Navigating complex regulatory and compliance changes follows at 45%.
What defines successful leadership in this environment? The ability to lead humans and AI together tops the list at 52%, followed closely by transparency and ethical decision-making at 51%. Cost control and operational discipline, empathy and emotional intelligence, and relentless innovation and agility all cluster around 47–48%.
Despite widespread optimism about AI, with 95% of executives feeling very or somewhat optimistic about its workplace impact, implementation roadblocks remain significant. Compliance and data privacy challenges will stall AI success for 57% of businesses, while 49% cite a lack of leadership alignment or vision on AI strategy, and 46% point to too many AI tools creating confusion and duplication.
