AI, Anxiety & the Entry-Level Crisis: Why the Youngest Workers Are Struggling Most

A new generation of workers is facing a turbulent job market—one reshaped by automation, oversaturation, and an accelerating AI wave. In a recent episode of What in the World by the BBC World Service, host Hannah and BBC reporter Nathalie Jimenez unpacked the unsettling truth: AI isn't just changing jobs—it's pushing entry-level opportunities out of reach for many young job seekers.

According to a Stanford study cited in the episode, since late 2022—the moment ChatGPT exploded into public awareness—job listings for individuals aged 22 to 25 have dropped by 13% in roles that are considered AI-displaceable. That includes software development, digital marketing, and customer support.

“Entry-level roles are on the chopping block first,” says Jimenez. “These jobs are often administrative, repetitive, and digital—exactly the kind AI excels at automating.” In short, they’re easy to cut, and that means the newest, youngest workers are the first to go.

But AI isn’t the only force at play. The pandemic-era chill in hiring has combined with a glut of college grads applying for the same roles. Add to that a wave of layoffs—from tech to media to even the federal government—and you’ve got a perfect storm of economic disruption. As one listener, Laura, shared: “It’s so tough for young people to find jobs right now… everyone I know has been laid off at least once.”

This systemic shift is also changing how employers hire. Algorithms are now the first “readers” of job applications, scanning for keywords before any human recruiter lays eyes on a CV. Some companies, like Duolingo and Amazon, are integrating AI tools into hiring decisions—and even evaluating how well employees use AI in their day-to-day work. In essence, job applicants aren’t just competing with each other—they’re competing with machines from the moment they hit “submit.”

The emotional toll is real. Recent graduate Tiffany recounted sleepless nights and a sense of being stuck “in limbo between school and adulthood,” despite interning at Apple. Zola in France, with two master’s degrees, described sending over 200 applications in a year with minimal responses.

There is, however, some hope. In India, entrepreneur and YouTuber Varun Mayya suggests that grads should “look at industries that are growing fast but with low supply of good talent.” He believes that people who can operate with AI, rather than resist it, are well-positioned to thrive.

Jimenez agrees. “See AI as your co-pilot. Let it do the repetitive stuff, while you lean into the human traits—judgment, creativity, empathy—that AI can’t replicate.”

So, while the AI revolution is undeniably reshaping the job landscape, the future isn’t about fighting the machines—it’s about complementing them with what makes us human.