PwC US CEO Shares Career Advice for Children Amid AI Transformation

In an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, the landscape of professional services is undergoing a profound transformation. Paul Griggs, the US CEO of PwC, recently shared his insights and career guidance for his college-aged children, stressing the enduring value of consulting and advanced business education, even as AI redefines workforce needs. His perspective offers a nuanced view on preparing for future careers where human ingenuity and adaptive skills complement technological advancements.
PwC has observed a shift in its hiring patterns, with fewer consultants and accountants recruited compared to two years prior. This trend is expected to continue as the firm strategically invests in talent with expertise in data science, engineering, and machine learning. However, Griggs maintains an optimistic outlook on the future of traditional consulting roles, asserting that the fundamental work within accounting, consulting, and finance largely remains unchanged, though the required skill sets are evolving.
Griggs's optimism is underpinned by PwC's 2026 AI Jobs Barometer, a comprehensive report that analyzed over a billion job postings to understand AI's influence on skills and occupations. The study revealed that professional services are among the most dynamic sectors, experiencing rapid evolution. Crucially, roles demanding a blend of human expertise and AI integration are expanding at twice the rate of those where AI simplifies tasks for non-experts, with wages in these specialized occupations increasing significantly faster since 2021.
This evolving dynamic suggests that AI acts as a catalyst for value creation, fostering growth and, in turn, generating demand for skilled individuals, innovative technologies, and bespoke solutions. Griggs views this period as an unprecedented opportunity, citing PwC's robust pipeline of new business as a testament to the transformative potential of AI.
Regarding educational pathways, Griggs champions a holistic approach. He anticipates a rise in liberal arts graduates entering consulting and business roles, as AI magnifies the need for broad knowledge and interdisciplinary thinking. He also strongly advocates for master's degrees, including MBA programs, for his children. These advanced educational pursuits, in his view, cultivate crucial attributes like continuous learning, curiosity, and the ability to research and discover independently, qualities highly prioritized by PwC. The firm actively recruits from MBA and other master's programs and maintains strategic partnerships with universities, exemplified by initiatives like the RevUp leadership program with Harvard Business School and an AI training program at Wharton developed with Professor Ethan Mollick, designed to equip partners with commercial AI applications and client impact understanding.
The integration of artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping the career landscape, particularly in professional services. PwC's US CEO, Paul Griggs, acknowledges a pivot towards technical expertise but strongly emphasizes that core human skills, nurtured through liberal arts education and advanced degrees like MBAs, will remain indispensable. He believes this technological evolution presents a significant opportunity for growth and innovation, requiring a workforce that is adaptable, curious, and committed to lifelong learning, rather than leading to a diminishment of traditional roles.