A recent PwC study found that AI is reshaping entry-level jobs, with employers increasingly expecting candidates to demonstrate higher-level skills, such as judgment and leadership|Omar Barcena|CC BY-NC 2.0

One of the Big Four accounting firms, PwC, is launching a mandatory six-month certification program this December to strengthen critical thinking and judgment among its 85,000-plus employees worldwide.

According to the company’s analysis, AI is reshaping entry-level jobs, with employers increasingly expecting candidates to demonstrate higher-level skills, such as judgment and leadership, more than they did seven years ago.

According to company executives, AI is increasingly handling junior staff tasks like research and analysis, leaving time to learn more senior-level skills.

Employees across its US, Mexico, and Acceleration Center offices working in client support and business operations will undergo the training. After hiring thousands of engineers and tech professionals in the last two years, the firm is keen to ensure its workforce can think for itself.

The program will first assess how employees think, then use AI coaches to help them practice through realistic scenarios.

PwC will give workers time to apply the critical thinking skills they learn and evaluate them during annual performance reviews.