Entry-level jobs have long represented the first step on the career ladder toward economic stability and mobility. But today’s world, with its constantly changing job market and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, is making their role in launching a career feel more uncertain. As AI automates some of the tasks historically done by entry-level workers, are those jobs starting to disappear? To understand better how entry-level hiring is evolving in the early AI era — and to help inform how learners, educators, and policymakers prepare for a changing job market — Strada Institute for the Future of Work surveyed nearly 1,500 executives and senior talent leaders across the country, representing the full range of industries and firm sizes. We asked them key questions relevant to people starting their careers: Is AI increasing or decreasing entry-level hiring? How is it changing the skills and qualifications employers expect? And which credentials, skills, and experience matter most for success in an entry-level job?