While 2025 brought many pivotal changes to the economy – a new administration, dramatic changes in tariff policy, increased liquidity and more – one theme has risen above the rest with respect to the job market: How will the accelerating adoption of AI affect hiring?
It is important to remember that AI initiatives are still in their earliest stages. According to research conducted at MIT in mid-2025, while organizations had invested $30-$40 billion into AI, 95% of them were still waiting for a return on their investment. This is because most AI tools are focused on individual rather than structural corporate productivity; however, this is expected to change in 2026, when more disruptive uses of AI are likely to mature into a usable state.
From LLMs like ChatGPT all the way to more programming-focused agentic models and robotics, the potential effects of AI on business operations and workforce expectations are unprecedented. While many initially feared that AI would automate and replace large segments of the workforce, the reality is more nuanced; AI is increasingly seen as a precision tool that augments human capabilities rather than replacing them outright. Recent studies show that AI can only fully complete about 2% of freelance projects to clients’ satisfaction, suggesting that most professional roles still require the broad cognitive skills, contextualization, and troubleshooting ability that only an experienced employee can bring. In fact, the World Economic Forum estimates that, by 2030, AI will create a net gain of 78 million jobs globally, as new opportunities emerge alongside automation.
That said, the implications of AI adoption across industries and individual roles will vary widely. What are our TBG subject matter experts currently seeing?
According to Brian McLaughlin, Managing Director, National Sales, the most prominent effect of AI is a reallocation of budget, with investment shifting from traditional entry and mid-level operations roles toward targeted hires capable of leading AI initiatives while also adding overall managerial and professional project management expertise. This trend is particularly pronounced in industries like financial services, mortgage, fintech, marketing, and professional services, where AI can meaningfully boost customer acquisition, analytics, and operational efficiency without fully automating core roles. As he explains:
“As a result, I see clients leaning more heavily on agency partnerships for senior-level talent, people who can build strategy, select and implement tools, and lead change, rather than junior execution roles. And yes, many clients now explicitly ask for AI fluency in senior hires. That doesn’t always mean hands-on coding, but it does mean comfort leveraging AI tools, understanding use cases, and integrating them into workflows.”
– Brian McLaughlin
Unsurprisingly, within the tech industry, AI has created the deepest impact with respect to role expectations. As Alison Chessa, Managing Director, Technology, notes:
“We’ve definitely seen a shift across the tech landscape – some role displacement, some elimination (particularly at more junior levels), and broader restructuring. One notable change is that AI has enabled PMs to contribute more directly to development through prototyping and early execution. On the hiring side, we’re seeing this evolution reflected in individual searches. For example, I’m currently working with a client seeking a Senior Cloud Solutions Architect with AI strategy experience, a capability that is increasingly in demand but not traditionally inherent to the role.”
– Alison Chessa
The increased emphasis on targeted tech expertise is also captured in our proprietary placement database, which records thousands of placements over time made by TBG search professionals. In 2025, the surge in prominence for roles like RPA/UiPath Developer, Network Engineer, Data Quality Engineer, and Market Risk Auditor indicate growing demand for tech and analytics skills, while growing demand for roles such as IAM Architect/Engineer and Senior Cisco Engineer reflect increased focus on IT infrastructure and security.
Drawing on both our hands-on experience and data-driven insights, our EMM research team can confidently state that successfully navigating AI-driven change demands a clear approach to redefining roles, a strong focus on maintaining high standards, and a strategic plan for scaling teams to seize new opportunities and achieve lasting success.
In late 2025, Partner and Head of Research Audrey Symes joined EMM, expanding its offerings from direct search support into broader advisory solutions, including thought leadership and customized deliverables such as case studies, industry reports, detailed topical analysis, and playbooks. EMM extends the progression of services offered by The Bachrach Group by drawing on decades of successful placements and a panoramic view of operations across leading corporations to deliver strategies to unlock the full potential of its clients.
About Audrey Symes
Based in New York City, Audrey leads the development of strategy to optimize talent and operational models across the finance landscape.
Select experiences:
• Originated deep-dive subsector analysis to improve investment committee effectiveness at private equity firm Partners Group.
• Ran global advisory platform delivering tailored market entry, growth and capital deployment strategies across sectors at Jones Lang LaSalle.
• Produced quarterly economic and investment outlooks on logistics sector performance at leading global logistics REIT Prologis.
Audrey holds a BA with Honors in Economics from Stanford University and an MA in Economics from New York University. She is a member of Stanford Professionals in Real Estate (SPIRE).
To discuss how EMM can position your business optimally for 2026, please email Audrey at audreys@emmresearch.com.
