Marc Benioff of Salesforce Says ‘We’re Hiring 1,000 New Grads’ — Just Months After Laying Off 1,000 Employees
The CEO says new hires will work on AI projects like Agentforce — sparking debate over whether it’s a fire-and-rehire tactic.
There’s nothing to see here. Salesforce has laid off employees twice in the past year — around 1,000 in February 2025 and fewer than 1,000 in early February 2026. Now CEO Marc Benioff says he wants to to prove AI isn’t killing entry-level jobs.
Benioff took to X to announce that Salesforce is hiring 1,000 new graduates and interns to work on AI projects, including Agentforce and Headless 360.
The move came after a Wall Street Journal article showed college graduate hiring is up 5.6% this year, despite warnings that AI could cut up to 50% of entry-level jobs. Benioff has been bullish on AI for months, writing that AI is making Salesforce more valuable, not destroying it
But the timing sparked debate. Some called it a classic fire-and-rehire tactic. You cut seasoned talent in favor of cheaper new graduates. Others praised the move, saying companies have a duty to provide opportunities for graduates in the AI-driven job market.
There’s nothing to see here. Salesforce has laid off employees twice in the past year — around 1,000 in February 2025 and fewer than 1,000 in early February 2026. Now CEO Marc Benioff says he wants to to prove AI isn’t killing entry-level jobs.
Benioff took to X to announce that Salesforce is hiring 1,000 new graduates and interns to work on AI projects, including Agentforce and Headless 360.
The move came after a Wall Street Journal article showed college graduate hiring is up 5.6% this year, despite warnings that AI could cut up to 50% of entry-level jobs. Benioff has been bullish on AI for months, writing that AI is making Salesforce more valuable, not destroying it
But the timing sparked debate. Some called it a classic fire-and-rehire tactic. You cut seasoned talent in favor of cheaper new graduates. Others praised the move, saying companies have a duty to provide opportunities for graduates in the AI-driven job market.
