AI Adoption Cooled Hiring in High-Exposure Sectors
Businesses integrated automation, resulting in a significant reduction in job openings for entry-level roles.
Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Employment
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Goldman Sachs Research analysis revealed that companies integrating generative AI tools have significantly slowed hiring, particularly in roles with high automation exposure. This trend, which began in the second half of 2022, is most pronounced in sectors like call centers across the US, Canada, and Germany.
Why it matters
Industries with high automation exposure are re-evaluating staffing needs as AI tools replace manual processes, creating a direct drag on headcount growth. This shift has created meaningful obstacles for recruitment, particularly for entry-level positions across more than 800 occupations.
AI adoption rates currently reach 15-20% in developed economies and 10-15% in emerging markets. This shift has caused call center employment to drop as much as 39% below trend in the US, with analysts noting a 0.1 percentage point drag on annual headcount growth for every 10% of exposure.
The players
Goldman Sachs Research
The investment research division of a global financial services firm that provides analysis on economic trends and market data.
The details
Companies are re-evaluating hiring plans by integrating generative AI solutions to automate routine tasks, which has led to a reduction in demand for entry-level human labor. The report analyzed more than 800 distinct occupations to quantify how automation exposure functions as an operational constraint on workforce expansion. Businesses have found that as automated solutions become more embedded in workflows, the need for human personnel in high-exposure roles like contact centers has diminished.
Timeline
The slowdown in job openings in exposed industries began in the second half of 2022.
The report was published by Goldman Sachs Research on September 20, 2026.
Market Landscape
This development follows the 2022-2023 shift in generative AI tool adoption, marking a transition from experimental pilot programs to operational integration. The data indicates that firms are now using these technologies as direct substitutes for labor, impacting broader employment trends in developed nations.
Operators should monitor the automation exposure of their specific business functions to anticipate potential changes in recruitment costs and candidate availability. Managers should assess whether current AI tool integrations necessitate a redesign of entry-level training pathways.
The takeaway
The integration of automation is creating a measurable drag on job creation, particularly for roles previously considered entry-level. Business owners should review their headcount forecasts against the level of automation exposure currently present in their operational workflows.
Further reading
For more on the current labor market, visit the Employment section.
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