A recent report from domestic human resources service provider 51job, titled "2026 Campus Recruitment Market AI Talent Demand Report," reveals significant structural changes in corporate recruitment strategies for AI-related fresh graduates through targeted research on campus recruiting companies and talent supply. The study shows that technical depth has replaced generalized concepts, with vertical scenario capabilities becoming the key to success.

Data from 51job's human resources research center indicates that nearly 60% of high-tech companies have incorporated AI talent into their core recruitment objectives. Their innovation-driven development characteristics determine a rigid demand for AI talent, far exceeding that of finance (40.1%) and professional services (26.7%). The food service/hotel/tourism industry, with core positions primarily focused on human services, tends to maintain existing service models, resulting in relatively limited capacity for AI talent absorption.

The report shows that regarding AI talent demand volume, 65.8% of companies recruit within 5 AI-related fresh graduates, 27.1% of companies recruit 5-20 people, and 7.1% recruit more than 20 AI-related fresh graduates. Interviews reveal that most companies' demand for AI talent remains in the cultivation and pilot stages, while some leading tech companies and traditional enterprises advanced in digital transformation have begun large-scale deployment of AI talent reserves to meet future business development needs.

From demand trend perspectives, although over 65% of companies control recruitment within 5 people, overall AI talent demand shows an expansion trend: nearly 60% (58.2%) of companies plan to expand AI-related talent recruitment, with 36.3% showing modest increases and 21.9% showing significant increases, while 38.8% maintain steady demand. Interviews indicate that leading companies are accelerating talent acquisition, with significant recruitment increases targeting high-barrier fields such as large models and chips, or strategic talent reserve expansion considerations.

AI is restructuring the fresh graduate position landscape, with technical value determining demand elasticity. 51job's survey shows nearly 60% of companies have increased demand for AI technology R&D fresh graduates, 35.6% have rising demand for technical support positions, while 20.3% have reduced staffing for standardized or repetitive positions such as basic customer service.

Core indicators for AI talent recruitment have undergone disruptive changes: professional foundation and practical ability are the most valued factors when companies recruit AI-related fresh graduates, with mathematics and algorithm foundation, and actual project/internship or competition experience accounting for 60.3% and 52.5% respectively. Meanwhile, proficiency in current popular technologies (34.6%) and software-hardware collaborative development experience (30.7%) as key AI technical capabilities are also major focus areas during recruitment. Notably, prestigious university credentials (28.8%) rank only fifth in importance, indicating that "theoretical-only" talent is losing competitiveness.

Under the large model wave, AI technology R&D positions command high median salaries. Data from 51job's human resources research center shows: Large Model Algorithm Engineers lead with a median monthly salary of 24,760 yuan, followed closely by Deep Learning Engineers (24,466 yuan/month) and Natural Language Processing Engineers (24,378 yuan/month). Multimodal Algorithm Engineers, Autonomous Driving Algorithm Engineers, Machine Learning Engineers, and Recommendation Algorithm Engineers all have median salaries exceeding 23,000 yuan/month. Support positions such as AI Test Engineers (13,621 yuan/month) and AI Data Trainers (8,513 yuan/month) show significant salary gaps compared to core technical positions, highlighting industry preference for high-end technical talent.

Overall, the current AI campus recruitment market exhibits three major characteristics: "steady demand growth, structural optimization, and salary differentiation." As AI technology penetrates deeper into industries, corporate demand for high-quality, high-potential AI fresh graduates will continue growing, with talent possessing solid algorithm foundations and project experience becoming the biggest winners.