Grads, entry-level roles to benefit from impact of AI

A new study has found that, despite recent job cuts sparked by AI integration, it has seen nearly one in four companies “redesigning entry-level roles to be more strategic or creative”.

A recent study by HR tech company HiBob has revealed AI’s role in reworking entry-level roles as opposed to completely replacing them.

The study saw more than 2,000 working adults in Australian workplaces surveyed by researcher Pollfish in June 2025, about their views on the impact of AI on entry-level roles.

It found, among other things, that nearly nine in 10 (87 per cent) of Australian employees believed that AI has already replaced tasks typically assigned to more junior staff. Three in five (60 per cent) perceived that recent graduates can now leapfrog traditional entry-level roles and move directly into more advanced positions, HiBob said in a statement.

The integration of AI enables significant gains in productivity when effectively implemented, the tech provider noted, having the potential to add $4.4 trillion in productivity growth from corporate use cases. The result, McKinsey has noted, “will be more efficient and effective problem solving, enabling innovation that benefits everyone”.

Recent events such as CBA’s move to replace over 90 job roles with an AI voice bot system, a decision which has since been reversed, and redundancies issued to graduates at giants such as EY and Microsoft, reflect growing concerns regarding AI-fuelled job losses.

AI’s automation of entry-level responsibilities

Damien Andreasen, vice president for the Asia Pacific and Japan regions at HiBob, believes that there is a definite shift in the job market as a result of AI. However, he sees a silver lining.

“AI is automating routine tasks … but crucially, it's also elevating the nature of entry-level work, making it more dynamic and skill-intensive for new entrants … companies are rethinking their traditional entry-level responsibilities,” he said.

“AI’s impact on the Australian job market, particularly at the entry level, is undeniable. While recent news stories like graduate redundancies at companies like EY and Microsoft might seem concerning, they are a sign of an evolving landscape.

Some manual tasks have been automated because of AI, which, according to one in three Australian employees, provides an opportunity for young professionals entering the market to engage in impactful work in their roles, such as strategic or analytical tasks.

The study found that 35 per cent of Australian employees believe that HR will benefit from AI’s absorption of routine tasks, and nearly half (47 per cent) of Australian employees believe that the finance and accounting sectors will benefit from AI being absorbed into traditional entry-level responsibilities.

This signals, HiBob said, a direct impact of automation on graduate recruitment volumes.

Evolving expectations

With the advent of these emerging tools, almost half of Australian workers said that stronger technical or digital skills are expected for entry-level roles to harness their potential. AI’s use in workplaces is a ‘sign of an evolving landscape’, the tech provider said, and these newly desired skills demonstrate this development.

Companies are now seeking out expertise that is compatible with this increased use of AI, with 19 per cent prioritising tech-savvy applicants with AI literacy and 23 per cent proactively redesigning entry-level roles to be more strategic or creative, HiBob said.

Reflecting this shift, a large proportion of Australian employees hold the view that this change allows graduates to move directly into more advanced positions.

Andreasen is optimistic about our increased use of AI in the workplace and recognises the benefits that it has for emerging graduates.

“AI shouldn’t be seen as just taking over tasks; it's fundamentally changing the very nature of entry-level roles,” he said.

These emerging technologies are reimagining early career roles for young professionals, and they reveal the intersection between the human mind and AI.

“Australian graduates need to bring modern solutions to the table,” Andreasen said, and HR will be required to grow alongside emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

“Both businesses and employees will need to adapt and ultimately learn to work smarter with AI. This will ensure a future where our talent can truly leapfrog into impactful and rewarding careers to work in symbiosis with AI.”