2026 Early Careers Trends Report

FEATURED IN:

Times
TrainingJournal
Personnel
ECOTrends2026Binoculars

Key Early Careers trends for 2026

2026 marks a decisive moment for Early Careers. This year’s findings show that across industries, the function sits at a crossroads between cost efficiency and long-term investment. Budgets are tightening, automation is accelerating, and leaders are under growing pressure to prove that every initiative contributes measurable value.

Backed by brand-new and exclusive ECO data, the 2026 Early Careers Trends Report provides a forward-looking analysis of key trends and opportunities impacting Early Careers functions in 2026 and beyond. 

Read the report now to dive into the full data, explore the recommendations, and discover how best-practice organisations are rethinking their Early Careers strategies over the coming year.

GET THE REPORT  →
#1 AI in Early Careers →
#2 Growing skills gaps →
#3 Declining stakeholder support →
#4 Inductions and onboarding →
#5 What drives retention most? →
Trend 1

AI use in Early Careers has surged 50% in just one year

Our research has shown AI implementation in Early Careers functions has brought speed and scale, 
but not without consequences.

Read the full report to discover the benefits and drawbacks noted by pioneering AI-enabled Early Careers functions, and targeted steps you can take to responsibly integrate AI into your Early Careers strategy.

GET THE REPORT  →
ECOTrends2026Trend1
ECOTrends2026Trend2
Trend 2

56% of Early Careers stakeholders now see ‘Embracing Change’ as the top human skill, up from 41% since 2024

Organisations are under growing pressure to hire talent that can adapt, collaborate, and work through uncertainty. Yet while the importance of human skills has never been clearer, many Early Careers functions still lack the frameworks needed to define, measure, or develop them effectively.

Read the full report to gain insight into the barriers organisations are overcoming to ensure their Early Careers talent are equipped with the right skills in 2026.

GET THE REPORT  →
Trend 3

Stakeholder support for Early Careers functions has fallen 68% since the start of 2024

Internal support for Early Careers has fallen sharply. The challenge for today’s Early Careers leaders? Rebuilding trust and investment from within.

Read the full report to learn the factors impacting Early Careers stakeholder misalignment - and the tangible benefits brought to organisations who get stakeholder management right.

GET THE REPORT  →
ECOTrends2026Trend3
ECOTrends2026Trend4
Trend 4

Organisations with the highest three-year retention rates spend nearly 4x longer on inductions than those with below-average retention

At a time where Early Careers functions must demonstrate clear return on investment, our data reveals that overinvestment in inductions and onboarding are increasingly providing long-term value.

Read the full report to discover how onboarding is evolving beyond an administrative process to a strategic Early Careers investment.

GET THE REPORT  →
Trend 5

50% of organisations cited "Post-Programme Transition" as their biggest retention challenge

ECO data shows that the strongest predictor of long-term retention is not salary or training budget alone, but the extent to which organisations make their Early Careers hires feel supported, recognised, and part of something bigger.

Read the full report to discover how organisations are adopting their strategies to better support, train and retain their Early Careers talent.

GET THE REPORT  →
ECOTrends2026Trend5

Methodology:
Powered by ECO

ECOTrends2026Trend6
People represented by participating orgs
Data points analysed
Early Careers Leaders
Global Organisations

Methodology:
Powered by ECO

Methodology3-1
People represented by participating orgs
Participants
Early Careers Leaders
Global Organisations

GET THE FULL STORY.

ECOTrends2026MockupNew
REQUEST YOUR COPY: