AI Is Killing Entry-Level Jobs—Here’s How Education Must Step Up

As artificial intelligence (AI) takes over many entry-level tasks, early career roles are becoming harder to find and land, with postings declining by 35% since 2023. This decrease has created an experience gap: entry-level candidates lack the skillset employers are looking for, and traditional pathways to gain those skills are disappearing.

For years, entry-level roles were the natural starting point for a career. They provided an opportunity to gain and practice skills, contribute to business outcomes, and build confidence. However, this model assumes employers will continue to invest in early talent development—but that is no longer a given. If AI can successfully offload entry-level tasks, the business case for training early-stage workers becomes harder to justify.

Closing the experience gap has traditionally been a shared responsibility between employers and educational institutions. That model is breaking down. As entry-level roles shrink, it is increasingly unrealistic to expect them to continue carrying the responsibility for developing talent.

Institutions must take the lead in designing learning environments that mirror the first one to two years of professional work. Success starts in the classroom. Rather than separating learning from application, institutions must begin embedding real-world experience directly into coursework. Advances in technology are making this more accessible across industries. Simulation tools, virtual and augmented reality allow students to engage in hands-on learning that reflects actual job settings, from technical trades to professional services. This approach ensures that students aren’t just learning concepts but applying them in context.

This doesn’t eliminate the need for partnership between employers and institutions, but it does require that institutions ensure students graduate with the foundational skills and experience that reflect the realities of the modern workplace.