Cognizant and Pearson’s research finds that 94% of HR leaders expect AI to create new entry-level jobs within five years, signaling transformation rather than extinction of entry-level work.

Additionally, 96% of HR leaders believe these new entry-level roles will evolve into supervisory and managerial positions, indicating a shift in career pathways linked to AI integration.

However, a majority of organizations—about 60%—acknowledge that learning and development programs aren’t keeping pace with AI’s rapid evolution.

Hirers increasingly favor adaptability, problem-solving, and human judgment over specialized degrees, with 97% agreeing these skills are more important.

The report stresses building human-AI collaboration capabilities rather than merely replacing tasks, marking a strategic pivot in workforce development.

Employee demand for AI training is high, with 91% of workers wanting training to manage AI systems; yet only 54% of organizations currently provide AI training.