Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere these days, and two recent surveys shed light on a stunning effect the technology is having on the workplace: the elimination of entry-level jobs. Data from résumé building platform Resume.org and industry research firm Gartner show that about half of companies have eliminated or plan to eliminate entry-level roles within their organizations thanks in large part to the adoption of AI tools. Those tools—especially agentic AI, which operates with minimal human intervention—have automated low-level tasks such as answering the phone, data entry, and other, similar duties.
The cost savings must be enormous: Chatbots don’t require a salary and benefits package, never call in sick or take a vacation, and can work 24/7.
While this may seem like a good idea at a time when cost-reduction strategies are paramount, it begs a pretty big question: Where will tomorrow’s leaders get their start? The mundane tasks AI agents are handling today used to be rolled up into jobs that served as prime training ground for young workers starting their careers. A personal example: Fresh out of college in the ’90s, with an English degree and no practical experience in anything, I landed a job as an editorial assistant at a small newspaper chain. My primary duties were directing phone calls to the appropriate reporter or editor, sorting through press releases, and occasionally covering a selectman’s meeting, school play, or library art exhibit. It wasn’t glamorous, but I learned a lot from experienced colleagues who were eager to train me. Most importantly, the job prepared me to step into a reporter’s role when an opening occurred.
I guess today’s college graduates will need to step up their game. The Resume.org study found that 21% of companies have already frozen entry-level hiring due to AI. That’s a striking finding on its own, but the trajectory is even more eye-opening: By the end of this year, 36% of business leaders surveyed said they will have frozen entry-level hiring. And looking even further out, nearly half (47%) said they expect to halt entry-level hiring by 2027. The survey polled nearly 1,000 business leaders across a variety of industries.
Gartner’s survey found similar sentiments among supply chain leaders. More than half (55%) of the 509 executives the company surveyed said they expect advancements in agentic AI systems to reduce their need to hire for entry-level positions. What’s more, 51% said that agentic AI will lead to overall workforce reductions. Although respondents were split on how the situation will ultimately play out, most (86%) agreed that a big change is coming—primarily that the adoption of agentic AI will require new processes for developing talent pipelines.
And that seems to be the big message. I asked the researchers at Resume.org what all of this means for young people entering the workforce and for the companies they will be looking to lead someday. Kara Dennison, Resume.org’s head of career advising, said that tomorrow’s candidates will need to sharpen their technical and problem-solving skills, and that corporations will need to work more closely with schools and colleges to deliver hands-on experience.
“Training will likely shift toward a mix of internships, apprenticeships, project-based learning, and earlier exposure to real-world work during college or vocational programs,” Dennison explained. “Schools and employers will need to collaborate more closely so students graduate with hands-on experience, not just theoretical knowledge.
“Organizations will also need to be more intentional about developing early-career talent through structured mentorship, rotational programs, and guided project ownership that helps employees build judgment and business context.”
For young professionals, Dennison said “the focus will shift toward building practical skills, developing AI literacy, and demonstrating the ability to solve real problems earlier in their careers. Those who can show initiative, apply tools effectively, and connect their work to measurable outcomes will be better positioned as entry-level pathways evolve.”I don’t know how common editorial assistant jobs are anymore or how they have changed in the past 30 years. But I bet they are evolving in the way Dennison describes. Candidates probably need a lot more experience than I had at the time, for one thing. And there’s no doubt they need to be adaptable, be creative, and have the technical skills required of today’s workplace.
Source – https://www.dcvelocity.com/technology/ai-is-redefining-first-time-jobs