As AI reshapes the career ladder, entry-level roles could be increasingly at risk. Image:REUTERS
Till Leopold
Head, Work Wages and Job Creation,
World Economic Forum
This article is part of: Centre for the New Economy and Society
- This regular roundup brings you essential news and updates on the labour market from the World Economic Forum’s Centre for New Economy and Society.
- Top stories: AI threatens entry-level jobs; Gen Z rethinks traditional career paths; China and the EU double down on skills as talent shifts reshape emerging markets.
Are entry-level jobs on the way out?
For decades, entry-level roles have provided essential training grounds for newcomers to step into the world of work. From finance to journalism, junior staff have traditionally handled the ‘grunt work’ as a rite of passage as much as a development opportunity.
But as AI reshapes the career ladder, these early entry points could be increasingly at risk, according to Bloomberg.
International Workers Day, on 1 May, signifies the labour movement’s struggle for the rights of workers. AI stands as one of the most significant challenges – and opportunities – facing the labour market today.
While 170 million new jobs are projected to be created this decade, the rise of AI-powered tools threatens to automate as many roles as it creates, particularly for white collar, entry-level roles. Bloomberg finds that AI could replace more than 50% of the tasks performed by market research analysts (53%) and sales representatives (67%), compared to just 9% and 21% for their managerial counterparts.
Whether by narrowing entry pathways or making roles that once required specialized skills more accessible, estimates suggest that AI could impact nearly 50 million US jobs in the coming years.
How AI could be closing the door on talent...
The Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 reveals that 40% of employers expect to reduce their workforce where AI can automate tasks.
Technology, overall, is projected to be the most disruptive force in the labour market, with trends in AI and information processing technology expected to create 11 million jobs, while simultaneously displacing 9 million others.
As entry-level roles decline, salary expectations are also shifting, with remaining hires expected to take on roles supported by AI for less money. A recent survey found that 49% of US Gen Z job hunters believe AI has reduced the value of their college education in the job market.
At the same time, US firms are expanding business operations in India, where skilled professionals can be employed at significantly lower costs, Charter points out, further intensifying competition for white-collar roles.
But this can create a talent pipeline problem, with significant implications for social mobility and equal representation, Bloomberg says.
...while also opening new doors
Gen AI could democratize access to jobs, making it easier to build the technical knowledge and skills that have historically excluded otherwise qualified workers, according to Charter.
Rather than eliminating entry-level opportunities altogether, companies could harness AI to train the next generation of senior professionals. From law firms saying goodbye to the billable hour to more emphasis on apprenticeships, traditional structures could be redefined.
As Gen AI becomes further embedded in the workplace, companies will need to invest in substantial upskilling efforts to prepare their employees for the AI-driven economy.
Alongside global macroeconomic trends, AI is set to reshape the traditional career ladder, with entry-level jobs at risk. But employers and employees alike can prioritize upskilling, education efforts and levelling the playing field that comes with harnessing AI’s potential.
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More labour news in brief
In a move to support employment amid continued economic restructuring, China plans to prolong key unemployment insurance policies and job retention incentives through 2025.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing Labor, Education and Commerce departments to focus on job needs in emerging industries. The goal is to support more than 1 million apprenticeships annually to improve job training for skilled trades.
With the digital and green transitions set to change the labour market, the European Commission has announced its “Union of Skills” plan to future-proof education and training systems across the bloc.
Youth employment in South Korea has seen its most significant decline in over a decade. With the number of workers aged 25 to 29 falling by 98,000 in the first quarter of 2025, this marks the country's steepest drop in 12 years.
Investors show confidence in AI-intensive regions, as a new study finds that countries with more AI job postings see lower municipal bond yields and rising tax revenues.
Have you read?
AI is changing work — the time is now forstrategic upskilling
The four things workers really want from their job in 2025
The new skills triad: How we equip the workforce for the future of work
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