AI threatens entry-level career paths for Gen Z, says LinkedIn exec
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — Artificial intelligence is influencing the entry-level job market, causing concern for Generation Z workers as millions prepare to graduate this spring.
LinkedIn’s chief economic opportunity officer, Aneesh Raman, warns in a New York Times op-ed article that AI is “breaking first the bottom rung of the career ladder”—the types of jobs that have historically served as stepping stones for young professionals starting their careers.
He likens the disruption to the decline of manufacturing jobs in the 1980s, but this time the upheaval is hitting office workers.
Entry-level roles vanishing across sectors
AI-powered tools are now handling many of the routine tasks that once gave junior employees crucial experience.
For example, simple coding and debugging jobs for junior software developers, document review for paralegals, and customer support roles in retail are increasingly automated. Wall Street firms are also reportedly considering steep cuts to entry-level hiring.
Since September 2022, the unemployment rate for college graduates has surged by 30%, outpacing the 18% rise for the broader workforce.
While there is no definitive evidence that AI alone is responsible for the weak job market, the trend is clear: “Now it is our office workers who are staring down the same kind of technological and economic disruption,” Raman wrote.
Companies and colleges urged to adapt
Despite the threat, businesses are not eliminating entry-level work altogether. Executives still value the fresh perspectives of young workers, and AI has freed up some junior employees to take on more advanced responsibilities earlier in their careers.
However, Raman cautions that the erosion of traditional entry-level tasks is likely to spread beyond tech and legal sectors into finance, travel, food, and professional services.
To address the challenge, Raman calls for colleges to embed AI across their curricula and for companies to redesign junior roles to include higher-level tasks from the outset.
Indeed CEO Chris Hyams adds that while AI can handle many job tasks, “there is no job posted on Indeed that AI could do alone,” emphasizing the continued need for human skills like empathy and adaptability.
Uncertain future, but not without hope
While some companies like Duolingo and Klarna initially moved aggressively to replace humans with AI, both have since scaled back, acknowledging the limitations of automation.
Studies also show that most AI initiatives fail to deliver their promised returns, and the impact on overall employment and earnings has so far been less dramatic than feared.
Still, as AI continues to reshape the job market, Gen Z faces mounting obstacles in launching their careers, making adaptation and upskilling more crucial than ever.
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