SAP reports 35% drop in entry-level AI-adjacent job openings from 2024 to 2025

According to SAP's analysis cited in CIO, early-talent job openings across all roles declined 10% since 2021, with a steeper 35% decline specifically in the ten most common entry-level positions including software engineer, customer support, and data analyst between 2024 and 2025. SAP attributes the decline to companies moving to automate entry-level and routine work, raising questions about career pathways to IT leadership and the balance between AI automation and training future technical talent.