Goldman Sachs CEO: Young Workers Remain Core Despite AI Automation

Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon stated on February 13, 2026, that young workers will remain a core part of the firm despite the rise of AI, even as automation may reduce the number of roles needed. Solomon emphasized that professional services require motivated individuals to serve clients, with the focus of work shifting rather than the need for people. The broader labor context shows that 22- to 27-year-old college graduates have a 5.6% unemployment rate, compared to about 3.1% for all graduates in December 2025, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Economists attribute this tighter job market more to post-2021 and 2022 hiring booms followed by workforce cuts than to AI-driven automation.