U.S. companies, which had hesitated to hire new employees over the past year or so under the assumption that artificial intelligence (AI) would replace workers, are reportedly increasing their hiring once again.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that while major U.S. corporations have treated hiring as a costly "last resort" over the past few months, a changing current is now emerging across various industries.
Kristin Martin Anderson, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Booz Allen Hamilton, which provides consulting services to the U.S. government and public sectors, stated in a letter to investors on the 24th, "We need to pick up the pace of hiring a bit. We are working through that."
The company cut thousands of employees last year as the Donald Trump administration significantly reduced contracts and demanded cost-cutting.
As of the end of June, the number of employees stood at approximately 30,900, a 7.5% decrease from a year ago. However, analysis indicates that additional hiring is now inevitable due to rising demand in the national security sector, particularly for personnel requiring security clearances.
Additionally, the Wall Street Journal explained that while major U.S. corporations had been downsizing white-collar workforces over the past 18 months, the scale of layoffs is now diminishing.
Initial jobless claims last week dropped to 187,000, marking the lowest level in 57 years since 1969.
Sarah Franklin, CEO of the HR management platform Lattice, said that employers' perceptions regarding the role of AI are shifting.
She noted that while many companies halted entry-level hiring under the belief that AI could fill the gap, they have now realized that they need human personnel to work alongside AI.
"Just because we have coding AI doesn't mean we stop hiring engineers," Franklin said, adding that companies utilizing AI tools still require relevant staff.
Lattice stated that a significant number of its thousands of client companies have now resumed hiring for various positions, including entry-level roles.
Reported by Kim Taewon | Video by Jang Yu-jin | Graphics by Lee Su-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
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