Posted on 06/17/2025 1:00:18 PM PDT by Cronos
As thousands of young graduates prepare to take their first steps on the job market, an unexpected obstacle stands in their way: artificial intelligence. The technological promise that was supposed to relieve us of repetitive tasks seems, paradoxically, to be blocking the access of new generations to the professional world.
The broken path to employment Traditionally, young people start their careers with internships, junior positions or simple assignments that allow them to learn and work their way up. But as Aneesh Raman, Head of Business Opportunities at LinkedIn, explains, “the first rung of the career ladder is disappearing”. The reason for this? It is precisely these introductory tasks – administrative, repetitive, often unskilled – that companies are now entrusting to generative AI.
Tech giants such as Amazon, Google and Microsoft are already automating tasks previously carried out by young employees: writing bits of code, data entry, administrative assistance… The result? A drop in “on-the-job” learning opportunities.
According to the New York Federal Reserve, the unemployment rate for young graduates in the United States is 5.8%, compared with 6.2% for younger workers. This rise is partly linked to the rapid automation of entry-level tasks. Companies such as Duolingo and Shopify are already actively reducing the recruitment of juniors for these roles, preferring to entrust them to AI systems.
A bleak future for young people? Chris Hyams, CEO of Indeed, points out that “in around two-thirds of professions, more than half of the skills required can be performed satisfactorily, or even excellently, by current AI”. While AI does not completely replace jobs, it does make many stages of the traditional training pathway obsolete.
The paradox is striking: companies are warning of a shortage of skilled labour… but no longer offer the conditions to train this talent. In Europe, this tension is all the more marked because companies are struggling to recruit experienced technical profiles, while young people can no longer access the positions that would allow them to become such.
If the trend continues, AI will not eliminate millions of jobs in one fell swoop: it will simply prevent future professionals from emerging. And in the long term, there is a great risk that we will end up with powerful tools, but without enough qualified human resources to supervise and develop them. But for this to be of benefit to everyone, we need to rethink professional integration and guarantee a space for human learning where machines are gaining ground.
An AI will not flip burgers, nor will it do manual labor.
Will it replace some jobs? probably but not tomorrow or next year
If these training opportunities are fading and AI can’t also replace the upper jobs then industry had better figure something out for succession.
I am not impressed with what AI has been able to do so far as human interaction is concerned. Neither am I very impressed with the scripted response readers in the “administrative” functions.
On drill ships automation resulted in a need to double bed space and a lot more helicopter flights.
Here’s a good sentence for every Gen-Z worker (and others) to remember to NOT ask in their work duties and job hunting.
“How do I get training from the company”
Here is what they need to remember. The resources for training is going for AI Models through Machine Learning & not for training human resources.
Human resources get their training through self-service. What they should instead be saying is:
“What are the resources and recommendations on what I can do to proactively do continuous learning and self-service for gaining new skills that the company needs?”
Anyone not a proactive self-starter on working & learning (and most importantly on getting feedback from their management to ensure they are aligned with the fast changing needs of their business unit) is moving themselves to the front of the line for layoffs or exclusion on getting new jobs. Companies just won’t have much use for humans that act like machines that have to be instructed on everything.
AI with robotics already flip burgers. And the cost is going down.
Burger flipping at McDonald’s is already standardised so perfect for automation. The only question is the break even point in terms of cost.
AI will also make manual lanor more efficient, think if your roomba
The beginning jobs is what immigration wiped out, it seems some are left that AI can take over.
“An AI will not flip burgers, nor will it do manual labor.”
So? We will then be working for AI?
“Will it replace some jobs? probably but not tomorrow or next year”
It already has and is right now...
Are you invested in this technology? Only someone who is invested in AI technology does not care or see the danger it poses...
First of all specialize in a field where there is a demand for those types of jobs.
Then suck it up and get whatever education and training and is required to be competitive and study and work hard.
“””Traditionally, young people start their careers with internships, junior positions or simple assignments that allow them to learn and work their way up. “””””
What BS. In my day new hires were expected to do the job on day one after getting a turnover from the person who previously held the job.
It seems that 21 year old children now expect they will attend training classes for the next 10 years before they actually have to do the work proscribed in the job.
“Only someone who is invested in AI technology does not care or see the danger it poses...”
What danger?
I am reminded of the old days when the power went out we just started a “Cash Box” to continue doing business and keep life moving. With no humans to pick up the baton the world will come to a stand still because AI has been switched off. What will we do with all those extra unneeded humans? The Globalists who are shoving this crap down our throats know exactly what to do with those extra humans. Exterminate them.
Is it really wise to put all of our eggs in one basket for just that one extra penny more profit? Are we caging and enslaving ourselves with this?
You bet... We are are going to be absolutely sorry we let ourselves become dependent on this technology...
Used to be that kids and teens learned the value of paid work by mowing lawns, delivering newspapers, and working in fast food stores. Now all those jobs are held by adult migrants.
Early every morning, I see pickup trucks delivering the Los Angeles Times (often one adult at the wheel, and one in the back tossing the papers). Migrants do landscaping. And adult migrants now make a lifetime "career" by working at a fast food joint.
Besides AI, there are many things which will contribute to a financial, as well as intellectual and cultural divide in this country.
As a small example - my son just graduated college and started his first job. He faces a wide choice of many different programs offered by the employer - from 401K, IRAs, to 5 levels of Obama health-care, to HSA, to FSA, to disability insurance to extended disability insurance, all of which have differing costs with different levels of risk/reward.
Then there is the complexity of the tax code as well, IRAs
He can figure it out easily enough himself, and then track, manage, and optimize these programs over the next several decades of his career/life.
But what about those 50% of Americans with below 99 IQ?
It seems the complexity of life, money, finance, debt and law will almost necessarily lead them to be working drones - or government dependents.
Well, if it is taking their jobs now, it will be takin the jobs from those who currently have jobs when they are no longer needed. So the fear remains justified.
If not enough people have decent paying jobs to buy anything how can companies stay in business?
We have already been over this and you are just too dense to see it, understand it, or you are in it purely for the money. So until you wake up and get a clue about reality stop with the stupid questions you already know the answers to, because I have already explained it numerous times to you personally.
This stupid game of “Tell me again” ain’t flying anymore.
Law School will be especially hard hit, Associates were hired to do the grunt work that now AI can do.
So, nomknown danger ...
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