Talent Barometer 2026: 96% of young talent already use AI

AI at work, in education and in everyday life: how are young talents already using it?

The 2026 Talent Barometer shows that artificial intelligence is no longer an emerging topic for students and recent graduates.

96% have already used generative AI tools, and 61% use them at least once a day.

AI has become a part of everyday life, embedded in studies, personal use and early professional experiences. It is primarily used to:

• save time on routine tasks,
• learn and deepen understanding of complex topics,
• structure analyses and support decision-making.

And what about AI in the workplace?

For employers, this is a structuring insight: young talent is entering the job market already familiar with AI usage. This is reshaping the skills expected from day one and raises important questions around onboarding, training and integration frameworks.

Learn how students are already using AI

AI in organisations: what do young people expect from their future employers?

This widespread adoption is not accompanied by either naïvety or blind enthusiasm.

Young talent takes a clear-eyed and pragmatic view of artificial intelligence:

• 74% believe AI could pose a threat to junior roles,
• yet 8 in 10 see themselves using it in their future job, particularly to automate repetitive tasks, analyse data or produce content.

The message to organisations is clear: the challenge is no longer simply to introduce AI, but to structure it, regulate it and embed it within a trusted framework.

Expectations towards employers are highly defined:

• 79% want to be trained in AI tools,
• 40% expect a clear ethical charter,
• 48% stress that AI should remain a support tool rather than a monitoring tool.

For employers, AI is therefore becoming a central HR governance issue, at the intersection of training, ethics, work organisation and employer attractiveness.

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Human skills in the age of AI: what young talent sees as irreplaceable

Beyond the technological question, the 2026 Talent Barometer highlights a broader shift in attitudes towards work.

74% of young people now place salary at the top of their professional priorities.

This renewed focus on pay reflects a need for reassurance in a context perceived as increasingly uncertain.

The search for meaning has not disappeared, but is expressed differently:

• the quality of professional relationships,
• work-life balance,
• a healthy and supportive working environment,
• clear career pathways and visible progression opportunities.

Against the backdrop of AI, young people are also reaffirming the importance of human skills.

The competencies considered most critical for professional success are:

• critical thinking (60%),
• emotional intelligence,
• creativity.

For employers, these results reinforce the need to secure early-career pathways, invest in skills development and offer credible, progressive career trajectories within a working environment increasingly supported by AI.

Explore how the relationship with work is evolving