Recent research by Ramp and Revelio Labs, analyzing corporate card data and workforce records from 21,559 U.S. firms between January 2021 and February 2026, reveals that companies making the largest AI investments are leading a hiring boom. Firms identified as "high-intensity adopters," spending approximately $30-$34 per employee per month on AI, grew their headcount by about 10% over two years after adoption. In contrast, those with low AI intensity showed no statistically significant change in employment.
Contrary to widespread fears that AI would primarily eliminate entry-level positions, the study found a 12% increase in entry-level hiring at these high-intensity AI adopters. This growth was broad, spanning engineering, sales, administration, and customer service, although concentrated in information firms like software, internet, and media. The researchers emphasize that hiring gains did not appear immediately, often taking 6 to 12 months to materialize and compounding over time, suggesting that quarterly measurements may not fully capture AI's impact.
While the study challenges the narrative of mass layoffs due to AI, it includes several caveats. These high-intensity AI adopters tended to be larger, faster-growing, and more likely to be venture-backed companies, particularly in tech-forward sectors. The research focuses on white-collar workers and does not encompass jobs that could be affected by AI in other sectors, such as manufacturing or transportation. The authors suggest that firms need to reach a certain spending threshold and maintain sustained AI use to see these positive employment effects.
Ultimately, the findings indicate that AI adoption may enable some companies to expand faster after a learning curve, particularly in technical and information-heavy industries. The study advises young job seekers to consider joining firms that actively integrate AI, as these companies are demonstrating significant growth in employment. However, it also cautions against attributing all hiring growth solely to AI, acknowledging that the earliest adopters often possess characteristics conducive to growth regardless of AI investment.
