CEO Arvind Krishna shares plans to shift hiring toward future-ready roles

IBM has replaced around 200 human resources (HR) jobs by using artificial intelligence (AI) to handle simple, repetitive tasks. This change is part of the company’s larger strategy to use automation to improve efficiency and invest more in fast-growing areas like technology, sales, and marketing.

AI Now Handles HR Tasks

Instead of doing routine tasks manually, IBM’s HR team is now supported by AI tools. These tools are being used to perform tasks such as verifying employment details, managing internal transfers, and handling other day-to-day HR processes. This has helped reduce the need for human involvement in certain back-office jobs.

According to IBM’s CEO, Arvind Krishna, the goal is not to reduce overall headcount, but to shift people toward more strategic, high-impact work.

“AI is helping us work smarter. Our HR team can now spend more time on people and planning, not paperwork,” Krishna said in a statement.

Tech and Sales Hiring on the Rise

While IBM has reduced some HR positions, it is actively hiring in other departments. The company is focusing on roles in software engineering, sales, and digital marketing. Krishna made it clear that AI is not eliminating jobs, it’s simply changing the types of jobs that are needed.

This reflects IBM’s shift toward a future-ready workforce, where automation supports growth instead of replacing human talent entirely.

Future Workforce Strategy

Looking ahead, IBM plans to slow down or pause hiring in jobs that are likely to be automated in the near future. The company estimates that up to 30% of non-customer-facing roles — about 7,800 jobs — could be automated over the next five years.

These changes are a part of IBM’s long-term approach to building a leaner and more agile organization, especially in roles that don’t directly involve working with customers.

Industry Trends

IBM’s move reflects a wider trend in the tech world, where companies are using AI to reduce costs, speed up operations, and shift human talent to creative and strategic tasks. Experts believe more businesses will follow this approach as AI tools become smarter and more affordable.

Back-office jobs, especially in HR and administration, are expected to be among the most affected in this shift toward automation.