Core Insights - The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) has released a biennial report indicating a strong hiring forecast for accounting firms, with 75% of firms that hired new employees in 2024 expected to maintain or increase recruitment levels in 2025 [1][2] Hiring Trends - In 2024, public accounting firms onboarded 11,985 new graduates, although this figure may not fully represent total hires across the US due to limited responses from firms [2] - Among the new hires, three-quarters held degrees in accounting, and 75% of firms expect to hire an equivalent or greater number of staff in 2025, with only 18% predicting a reduction in hiring [2] Challenges in Talent Production - There has been a decline in the number of accounting graduates, with 55,152 students obtaining degrees in the 2023-24 academic year, representing a 6.6% decrease from the previous year, although the rate of decline has slowed [3] CPA Exam Participation - The first half of the 2025 testing year saw an increase in CPA Exam candidates, with 16,448 new entrants [4] Initiatives and Tools - The AICPA is implementing various initiatives to strengthen the accounting workforce, including enhancing student engagement and reducing barriers to CPA Exam completion [4][5] - The introduction of Josi, an AI-powered tool, aims to streamline research and support learning while ensuring reliable information from the AICPA's curated online library [5][6]