Employers Share听New听Hiring Outlook for 2026 in听Latest听WGU Workforce Decoded Report
New data shows mid-level talent is the most in-demand amid AI transformation
SALT LAKE CITY,听January听28,听2026听鈥�听91制片厂听today released听the second installment of听its听Workforce Decoded Report,听which听captures听over 3,000 employers鈥� perspectives on workforce development, hiring practices and emerging talent needs听amid a听period of听widescale听business transformation.听The report听explores听how companies are听adjusting听their hiring strategies for 2026, with demand听shifting toward听mid-level talent听as AI reshapes the workforce.
Growth in听Enterprise听AI听Use听Prompts Shifts in听Hiring听Focus
Employers听are boosting efforts to source听mid-level candidates听who have a听proven听track record,听job-relevant听skills听and the ability to adapt in evolving environments听鈥撯�痑ttributes that听are growing in importance amid听AI鈥檚听continued听impact on听job听functions.听
Seventy-six percent of employers report a shift in the types of candidates they seek due to AI.
Over 40%听say mid-level talent (5鈥�10 years of experience) is now the most in-demand hiring tier.
Thirty-eight percent say they are reducing entry-level hiring because of AI, primarily in information & technology, and finance & professional services.
For early-career professionals looking to听excel,听job听experience and听avenues like听advanced degrees听and听industry-recognized听credentials 鈥� when aligned with in-demand roles and strong economic outcomes 鈥� can differentiate them in a crowded job market.
鈥淭his data emphasizes the evolution we are seeing in the talent economy and underscores higher education鈥檚 role in preparing students 鈥� at all career levels 鈥� with听both the technical and听durable skills that will set them up for long-term success听and greater economic opportunity,鈥澨齭aid Scott Pulsipher, president of WGU. 鈥淎t听WGU, that means maintaining our core focus on delivering value through听workforce-aligned programs and curricula,听which is听especially听relevant to mid-level talent听who have the听experience听employers听seek听while听simultaneously听looking to upskill听for听further听career advancement.鈥�
Talent Shortages Persist Despite AI Replacement听Concerns
Despite widespread discussion about AI replacing roles, more than 60% of hiring professionals cite talent shortages as the top pressing issue in the next 12 months followed by burnout (56%) and skills obsolescence (48%).
Among the AI-related skills that employers are seeking, a quarter (25%) are prioritizing candidates who are comfortable using AI tools like ChatGPT,听and听21% are听hiring听for听AI-specific skills or certifications. Outside of AI,听the most听important听skills听for job success听are critical thinking and problem solving (60%), time management (41%), adaptability听(40%), and emotional intelligence (37%).These听non-technical听attributes align closely with skills that听are听often听developed听through听direct听and continuous听work experience听that听mid-level employees听possess.
As听a result, in听2026, employers听are听adjusting听their听hiring processes听to听emphasize听skillset validation and indications of job readiness.听Findings show that听46% of employers plan to increase focus on skills over degrees, while 43% plan to place more emphasis on work experience and internships/apprenticeships. By investing in upskilling programs for junior talent and creating structured pathways into mid-level roles, employers can address growing skills gaps while expanding opportunity.听
To view the findings from听the听2025-2026听WGU听Workforce Decoded听Report, visit听here. To view the findings from听the听2025听report, visit听here.
About WGU鈥檚 Workforce Decoded Report
91制片厂鈥檚 Workforce Decoded Report is based on findings from a national survey conducted by听Centiment听on behalf of WGU between September 30, 2025-October 15, 2025. A total of 3,147 U.S.-based respondents completed the online survey, and participants represented organizations of varying sizes across a range of industries and regions.听
