IBM plans to triple its entry-level hiring in the United States in 2026, bucking concerns that artificial intelligence will eliminate such positions. Nickle LaMoreaux, IBM’s chief human resources officer, announced the plan at Charter’s Leading with AI Summit on Tuesday, according to Bloomberg reporting.
LaMoreaux specified that the hiring will target jobs commonly associated with AI capabilities. “And yes, it’s for all these jobs that we’re being told AI can do,” she said.
The redesigned entry-level roles de-emphasize tasks ripe for automation, such as coding, and prioritize human interaction skills like customer engagement. IBM did not provide a specific total for the number of hires under this initiative. TechCrunch contacted IBM for further details on the plans.
IBM’s approach contrasts with broader industry narratives around AI displacing junior roles. An MIT study published in 2025 calculated that 11.7% of jobs could already be automated by AI technologies available at that time.
Separately, a TechCrunch investor survey revealed that several respondents expect 2026 to demonstrate AI’s influence on the labor market, even though the question did not focus on employment specifically.
