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New research from ECO and The Smarty Train reveals that the number of Early Careers functions that reported substantial buy-in from Stakeholders for their Early Careers strategy has dropped from 68% to just 22% since the start of 2024, signalling a widening gap of internal backing
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New research from ECO and The Smarty Train reveals that 56% of Early Careers stakeholders now see ‘Embracing Change’ as the top human skill, up from 41% since 2024
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New research from ECO and The Smarty Train reveals that AI integration is bringing speed and scale to Early Careers processes, but not without consequences.
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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.
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As the economy tightens, organisations are facing growing pressure to deliver measurable outcomes across all aspects of their talent strategies, and Early Careers programmes are no exception. However, a troubling gap is emerging between ambition and execution in this critical area.
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New research from ECO and The Smarty Train has identified a concerning trend: nearly one-third of Early Careers hires are leaving their organisations within three years of joining.
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