🚨 Graduate Jobs at Risk as PwC Boss Warns of AI Disruption

 Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the future of work, and one of the world’s largest accounting firms says graduate jobs could be among the first casualties. PwC’s global chairman, Mohamed Kande, revealed that the rapid adoption of AI tools may reduce the number of entry‑level graduates the company hires in the coming years.


Speaking at a business summit in Singapore, Kande explained that while AI is transforming how professional services operate, it is not directly responsible for PwC’s recent job cuts. Instead, the firm is struggling to recruit hundreds of AI engineers to drive its technology agenda. “We want to hire, but it may not be the same type of people we used to hire — it’s a different set of skills now,” he said.

📉 Graduate Recruitment Under Pressure

PwC traditionally hires thousands of graduates annually — including 1,300 in the UK and 3,200 in the US last year. However, the company has scaled back its ambitious plan, announced in 2021, to recruit 100,000 new employees over five years, citing the impact of AI on traditional consulting roles.

  • Tasks once handled by junior consultants, such as sifting through data and documents, can now be completed by AI models in minutes.

  • Last year, PwC cut more than 5,600 jobs worldwide, signaling a shift in how the firm manages its workforce.

🌍 Global Economy and Trump’s Tariffs

Despite challenges, PwC’s consulting division has benefited from global trade uncertainty. Kande noted that President Donald Trump’s tariffs have driven demand for advisory services, as companies seek guidance on navigating complex economic conditions. “We are receiving a lot of calls from businesses worldwide asking how to adapt,” he said.

🇨🇳 PwC’s China Setback

PwC also faced reputational damage in China after being suspended for six months over its auditing work on the collapsed property giant Evergrande, which defaulted on debts exceeding $300 billion. Regulators accused PwC of failing to detect financial fraud. Kande, who became chairman after the scandal, said the firm has since introduced stricter governance and quality controls: “My focus has been to ensure nothing like this ever happens again.”

🔮 The Future of PwC and AI

Looking ahead, PwC sees AI as both a challenge and an opportunity:

  • Threat: Entry‑level graduate jobs may decline as automation replaces repetitive tasks.

  • Opportunity: Demand for AI engineers and technology specialists is soaring, with PwC actively seeking talent to lead its digital transformation.

  • Strategy: Helping clients integrate AI into their operations will be a central component of PwC’s future business model.

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