ORLANDO, Fla., May 5, 2026Analysts Discuss Multiple Risks of a Hiring Pause at Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo
By 2030, 75% of supply chain organizations that paused hiring for entry-level roles in 2026 will pay premiums upward of 15% for early-career professionals, according to Gartner, Inc., a business and technology insights company.
Attendees learned of multiple risks of pausing entry-level hiring during a period of uncertainty driven by AI advancements at Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo in Orlando.
“Many organizations are attempting to manage uncertainty today by pausing entry-level hiring, but they will face talent shortages for themselves in the near future,” said Simon Bailey, VP Analyst in Gartner’s Supply Chain practice. “AI is not a ‘plug and play’ replacement for people. Organizations that stop hiring, and fail to develop early-career professionals, will soon face talent pipeline gaps, employee dissatisfaction, and elevated hiring pay premiums, especially for AI-native talent.”
A Gartner survey of 509 supply chain leaders globally across industries from July to October 2025, showed that advancements from AI and agentic AI are expected to be the most impactful drivers of future supply chain performance over the next three years. The survey also revealed that 55% of respondents expected a decline in entry level hiring as a result of agentic AI advancements. (....)