US and UK Firms Resume Hiring Amid AI Automation Concerns

Major corporations across the United States are reversing earlier plans to curb recruitment, announcing renewed hiring in technology, manufacturing and services as economic conditions improve. The anticipated wave of job losses from AI and automation has not materialised to the extent forecasted, prompting companies to retain and expand their workforces.

In the United Kingdom, the entry‑level labour market is diverging. Global firms such as IBM and Cognizant are increasing junior intakes, while many other employers are pulling back while waiting for AI to prove its value. Graduate vacancies have fallen 14% overall, with sharp drops in accounting, graphic design and software engineering roles. At the same time, apprenticeship hiring has risen 8%, shifting the balance toward skill‑based, on‑the‑job training.