The graduating class of 2026 is entering a job market that looks nothing like when they started college, and AI is playing a role.
As of March 2026, 10.3% of internships on the early-career job platform Handshake mentioned AI keywords, including using specific AI tools to enhance their work. Meanwhile, 4.2% of full-time early-career jobs mention them, nearly double the share from a year ago, according to Handshake’s 2026 graduate report.
According to the report, roles calling for AI skills run the gamut from engineering jobs — where candidates are expected to “touch [natural language processing], knowledge representation, reasoning systems, and frontend visualization” — to creative roles, like a digital designer opening that says it involves “combining classical design craftsmanship with the ability to leverage Al technology and deliver innovative solutions for design requests.”
The need for AI skills is more common in some fields, appearing in descriptions for 32% of tech, 7.4% of financial services, and 5.4% of media and marketing jobs. Roles in government, healthcare and education were at near-zero levels of calling for AI skills before 2024 but are “now seeing their sharpest growth,” according to Handshake.
