1、2026WORKFORCE OutlookThe Class of 2026 in the AI economySenior Outlook:Class of 20262Key findings01The Class of 2026 isusing generative AI as a collaborator,not a crutch.Although more than 80%of rising seniors have used generative AI tools,most rely on AI as a brainstorming partner or study aid as o

2、pposed to a content generation machine.02Rising seniors are confident in their AI skills.Of Class of 2026 students whove used generative AI tools for brainstorming and self-teaching,about three-quarters describe themselves as“reasonably skilled”or“very skilled”at leveraging AI effectively.03Seniors

3、are increasingly likely to point to AI as a factor in career pessimism.Of the 61%of Class of 2026 students who are somewhat or very pessimistic about their careers,almost half say this is due at least in part to the impact of generative AI.04Students and hiring managers see AIs impact on the job mar

4、ket differently.More than 50%of hiring managers believe generative AI will create jobs,compared to just 24%of rising seniors.05The evidence for AI displacing early talent remains mixed.So far,there is not a clear trend toward steeper hiring slowdowns for job roles that are thought to be more exposed

5、 to AI.06Employers are increasingly seeking AI-savvy talent.The share of full-time job descriptions on Handshake that mention generative AI has increased almost 5X since 2023,and the share of internship descriptions has increased more than 4X.When this years seniors look back on their college career

6、s,one thing will almost certainly stand out:the rise of generative AI and its impact on their lives and career prospects.We dug into how the Class of 2026 is using(and not using)generative AI tools,how AI has affected their perspective on the job market,and what this technology really means for entr