AI presents an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate innovation and create new types of jobs. For early-career professionals who embrace this transformation, AI offers the potential to have meaningful impact and open up new possibilities.
To better understand the AI-driven transformation of the workforce and its implications, we partnered with Draup, a data intelligence firm specializing in workforce planning and talent analytics, to conduct a comprehensive study: “The Evolution of Early-Career Technical Roles in the AI Era.”
Our research reveals a compelling paradox: while young adult unemployment has reached 6.6%, the highest in a decade outside the pandemic, AI is simultaneously making many technical roles more accessible to those just starting their careers. The catch? These roles now require mastery of more complex skills, as AI has automated many traditional entry-level tasks.
The findings are striking: 50-55% of early-career workloads are now AI-augmented. This isn’t a future scenario—it’s today’s reality, where entry-level workers are contributing to complex projects on day one and delivering insights in hours instead of weeks.
Five high-growth roles transformed by AI
AI-assisted tools are democratizing tasks that once required years of experience, creating new opportunities across the tech industry. Our research identified five key roles where AI’s impact is creating significant opportunities:
- Software development: The AI revolution Software development engineers are experiencing perhaps the most dramatic transformation. With over 283,000 current entry-level job postings, and a 28% growth rate over the past year (June 2024-June 2025), it’s one of our most in-demand entry-level positions.
- Data analysis: From processing to insights Data analyst roles represent another high-growth opportunity, with nearly 125,000 current job postings and 16% growth in the past year.
- Cloud engineering: Building the technology systems that power our digital world Cloud engineers are increasingly critical as organizations accelerate their digital transformation. With almost 45,000 current job postings and 9.5% year-over-year growth, this role offers early-career professionals the chance to architect and manage the infrastructure powering our digital world.
- Cybersecurity: Protecting the digital future Cybersecurity engineering roles, particularly in the financial services sector, represent an emerging opportunity with 62.5% growth in job postings over the past year.
- Data engineering: Powering AI innovation Data engineers round out our top five, with over 103,000 current job postings and nearly 12% growth since June 2024.
Seizing the opportunity
With nearly 90% of early-career workloads now cloud-enabled, we’re seeing an unprecedented opportunity for the next generation of tech professionals. I call these emerging talents “AI-native professionals”—individuals who enter the workforce ready to collaborate with AI tools to drive innovation and solve complex problems from day one.
Through this initiative, we aim to democratize access to AI and cloud skills through hands-on, practical training. We’re not just preparing individuals for existing roles; we’re empowering a new generation of tech professionals to shape the future of work and drive digital transformation across industries.
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