Is AI Killing Entry-Level Jobs? Here’s What We Know
Job postings have plunged and unemployment is up for young people, yet new research suggests an emerging paradox in which AI may expand access in some fields.
Illustration: Felix Decombat
When a disruptive new technology comes along, it can make millions of jobs redundant while creating roles that are sometimes more interesting and rewarding than those they displaced. What this optimistic reading overlooks is that some of those displaced routine jobs function as steppingstones to careers. These are the roles filled by less experienced workers who can’t yet be entrusted with too much responsibility but need exposure to their chosen industry to progress.
Entry-level jobs appear uniquely vulnerable to getting hit by the new generation of artificial intelligence tools. These roles are disproportionately focused on the kinds of straightforward, low-stakes tasks—summarizing documents, collating data and basic coding—that ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or other platforms can do in seconds.