24% decline in Financial Services junior roles spurs shift to an AI-driven skills-first revolution.

• 78% of financial services professionals say their employer is helping them build future-proof skills (vs. global average of 64%)
• 80% feel ready to use the latest technologies, including AI (vs. 71% globally)
• Global job postings for entry-level roles (0-2 years' experience) down 24% as roles evolve, with growth in senior opportunities

Artificial intelligence is accelerating change in the financial services sector, reshaping the skills required and the roles available. Randstad's latest analysis shows global job postings requiring 0-2 years' experience fell by 24%, since January 2024, driven largely by the automation of routine tasks. Data entry clerks saw the steepest decline (-63%), followed by auditors (-43%), payroll specialists (-41%) and financial analysts (-46%). These findings are based on 11m job postings analyzed by Randstad.

Demand for senior professionals (10+ years' experience) is more resilient, rising by 6% over the same period of time.

We are witnessing a fundamental reconfiguration of entry points into the financial services workforce, as AI and broader economic pressures reshape the role of junior talent. The sharp decline in demand for traditional entry-level jobs may seem like a challenge, but the picture is more optimistic. For a generation of ambitious, tech-savvy professionals entering the industry, these changes represent a shift, not a shutdown.

As automation absorbs repetitive and rules-based tasks, new opportunities are emerging for early-career talent to contribute in more strategic, creative and client-focused ways. Far from displacing talent, technology is creating space for growth.

Employers are already adapting. Randstad's 2025 Talent Trends report, based on a survey of 1,060 talent leaders across 21 markets, finds that 83% of organizations are adopting a skills-first approach to hiring and development, moving away from rigid job definitions to focus on capabilities.

This aligns with Randstad's 2025 Workmonitor findings that 78% of financial services professionals say their employer is equipping them with future-ready skills, and 80% feel prepared to use new technologies such as AI - both well above the global averages of 64% and 71%.

Gen Z, in particular, is adapting quickly to this landscape. Randstad research finds that Gen Z are actively pursuing growth, combining roles and side hustles, and using AI to expand their skills at pace. In fact, 75% of Gen Z are already using AI to upskill, more than any other generation.

This transformation is unfolding alongside a broader shift in workplace expectations. Randstad's research shows that 88% of financial services talent now prioritize work-life balance over compensation, while 87% believe a sense of community improves performance.

In a sector often defined by long hours and individual performance metrics, adaptability, inclusion and purpose are emerging as key drivers of attraction and retention.

Sander van 't Noordende, CEO of Randstad, said:

"Entry-level roles have long been the foundation of career progression in financial services but that foundation is shifting. As automation reduces the need for routine work, employers must respond by accelerating learning and development and creating clear, future-focused pathways into the industry. The data shows that talent is ready to change: they want to grow, adapt and contribute in more meaningful ways. Businesses that invest in skilling, inclusion and culture will be the ones that thrive in this new era."

about randstad.

Randstad is a global talent leader with the vision to be the world's most equitable and specialized talent company. As a partner for talent and through our four specializations - Operational, Professional, Digital and Enterprise - we provide clients with the high-quality, diverse and agile workforces that they need to succeed in a talent scarce world. We help people secure meaningful roles, develop relevant skills and find purpose and belonging in their workplace. Through the value we create, we are committed to a better and more sustainable future for all.

Headquartered in the Netherlands, Randstad operates in 39 markets and has approximately 40,000 employees. In 2024, we supported over 1.7 million talent to find work and generated a revenue of € 24.1 billion. Randstad N.V. is listed on the Euronext Amsterdam.

For more information, see https://www.randstad.com.

about Workmonitor.

The Randstad Workmonitor, now in its 22nd year, explores the views of working people in 35 markets across Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas. It aims to provide an inside look at their attitudes, ambitions and expectations as the world of work continues to transform.

It is conducted online among respondents aged 18-67 who are either employed for at least 24 hours per week, sole traders, or unemployed but considering looking for a job in the future. The minimum sample size is 500 interviews per market. Evalueserve is used for sampling purposes.

The survey was conducted between October 7 and November 6, 2024 among over 26,000 workers in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong SAR, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, the United States and Uruguay.

about the report, Gen Z workplace blueprint: fast moving, future focused.

The survey connected to this report explores the views of working people in Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America. It is based on primary data collected from 11,250 respondents in 15 markets between 30 June - 14 July 2025. For the primary research, Randstad partnered with Evalueserve, a global research and analysis firm.

about the randstad enterprise talent trends report.

The 2024 Talent Trends research is a survey of 1,076 C-suite and human capital leaders at global and regional organizations across 21 markets worldwide. It is our largest survey in the nine-year history of the Talent Trends Report and is designed to help our clients and the broader business community understand the top HR and talent acquisition trends for 2024. Conducted by a third party on behalf of Randstad Enterprise, survey panels are composed of business leaders who influence both strategic and operational decisions for their organizations. Online surveys were conducted via external panels during Q4 of 2023. Interviews were self-administered and could be taken across devices (including mobile phones, tablets, desktops and laptops).

Markets surveyed: Argentina, ​​Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Nordics, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, U.K., U.S.