Artificial intelligence is transforming the global job market at an unprecedented pace, creating ripple effects across all sectors. According to LinkedIn’s Chief Economist Karin Kimbrough, AI is rapidly eliminating many traditional entry-level roles, especially those that Gen Z workers have historically relied on to begin their careers. As AI systems become more capable, these changes are quietly and fundamentally reshaping how the labor market functions.
Speaking at the Fortune CEO Initiative conference, Kimbrough emphasized that automation and AI tools are increasingly replacing routine administrative, analytical, and even creative tasks. These responsibilities once served as essential stepping stones, providing young professionals with foundational workplace experience, exposure to corporate culture, and mentorship. Now, with these tasks often handled by machines, newcomers face greater difficulty in finding suitable opportunities to start their careers.
Gen Z Faces a Shifting Career Landscape
For decades, positions like internships, executive assistants, junior analysts, and customer service representatives formed the base of the career ladder. These roles helped young workers build confidence, develop soft skills, and establish professional habits essential for long-term success. They offered a structured, supportive environment to learn on the job, network with mentors, and understand the dynamics of the workplace.
Today, many of those entry points have been displaced by AI-powered tools. Automated scheduling systems, virtual customer support bots, smart content generators, and advanced research algorithms are now handling tasks that were once delegated to junior staff. This shift removes valuable learning experiences and disrupts the traditional path from academia to employment.
“The bottom rung of the career ladder is being removed or replaced,” Kimbrough warned. This not only makes it harder for young professionals to enter the workforce but also risks creating a generation of underemployed talent, forced to rely on unpaid internships, temporary gig work, or extended periods of job hunting.
The AI Upskilling Imperative
While AI displaces some job types, it also introduces new expectations. Organizations increasingly seek individuals who can work collaboratively with AI systems. This change underscores the importance of upskilling and digital literacy, especially in areas such as prompt engineering, machine learning fundamentals, AI-assisted analytics, and automation tools.
Entry-level roles in the near future may require proficiency with tools like ChatGPT, Jasper, Midjourney, or enterprise-level AI solutions. This shift is already influencing recruitment patterns. LinkedIn data reveals a growing demand for hybrid professionals—those who combine technical fluency with interpersonal skills such as collaboration, adaptability, and creative thinking.
The ability to assess AI outputs, provide oversight, and make judgment calls based on automated recommendations is becoming an essential part of many jobs. Employers are not just hiring for what candidates know but how well they can adapt to evolving technologies and maintain a human-centered perspective in AI-dominated workflows.
Rethinking Education and Career Planning
The educational system must also evolve to meet this new reality. Rigid curriculums and traditional degrees are no longer sufficient preparation for the workforce. Instead, institutions should integrate AI tools and real-world digital platforms into their programs. Project-based learning, AI ethics, no-code platforms, and collaborative tools must become standard.
Alternative pathways such as bootcamps, short-term certificates, and microcredentials are gaining traction. These programs often teach practical skills in condensed timeframes, preparing students for specific digital roles. Simultaneously, employers should reconsider entry-level hiring models. Rather than eliminating beginner roles, companies should create AI-era apprenticeships or mentorship-based roles that blend learning with productivity.
Some forward-thinking organizations are already experimenting with roles like junior AI content reviewers, automation coordinators, and digital workflow assistants. These jobs offer Gen Z professionals real-world experience while allowing companies to maintain oversight and flexibility.
Broader Implications for the Workforce
This transition is not just affecting young professionals. The reduction in entry-level roles impacts entire workplace ecosystems. Senior employees have fewer junior staff to mentor and delegate to, potentially leading to increased stress and inefficiency. Team dynamics shift, and knowledge transfer becomes less structured.
Additionally, if talent pipelines dry up at the bottom, organizations could face long-term shortages in middle and upper management. Succession planning, talent retention, and workforce diversity may suffer as a result. Companies must ensure their talent strategies are sustainable, inclusive, and forward-looking.
The loss of entry-level positions also has psychological consequences. These jobs provide more than experience—they build confidence, foster identity, and offer a sense of belonging. Without them, young workers may struggle with direction, delay career decisions, or disengage entirely from professional pursuits.
Moreover, the shift risks worsening inequality. Those with access to networks, mentors, and elite training programs will continue to advance. Others, lacking those resources, may be left behind. Addressing this imbalance requires public and private investment in equitable learning, digital access, and inclusive hiring practices.
Final Thoughts
Artificial intelligence is rewriting the rules of employment. While the gains in efficiency and productivity are real, they come with costs—especially for those just entering the job market. As AI systems become more embedded in daily operations, the workforce must be ready to adapt, and society must ensure that pathways to employment remain viable and inclusive.
For Generation Z, the future depends not only on mastering technical tools but also on cultivating resilience, agility, and a commitment to lifelong learning. Educators, employers, and policymakers must collaborate to build a framework that prepares young professionals for meaningful, AI-enhanced careers.
Equipping the next generation to thrive in this new era is not just a technological necessity—it is a social and economic imperative.
