Early evidence suggests firms in artificial intelligence (AI)-exposed industries may be shifting hiring away from entry-level roles that traditionally feed office employment, according to a recent report by New York Life’s Stewart Rubin, head of strategy and research; Matt Wnek, director; and Marshall Swett, associate.
The report found employers are increasingly favoring experienced hires, particularly as AI enables productivity gains that reduce the need for junior staff and compress tasks that once supported entry-level roles.
This shift comes as academic signals become less reliable, with declining standardized test scores and rising grade inflation making it more difficult for employers to differentiate among candidates.
Together, these demand- and supply-side changes to office-using employment may weigh on long-term office demand, adding to the structural challenges already facing the sector.
To read the full report,
