Remote Work, Not AI, Is the Real Reason Junior Jobs Are Disappearing

A groundbreaking new study reveals that remote work—not artificial intelligence—is the primary driver behind the steep decline in entry-level hiring. While AI often takes the blame, the shift to working from home has created unexpected barriers for young professionals just starting their careers.

The Real Culprit Behind Fewer Junior Hires

Researchers Peter John Lambert and Yannick Schindler analyzed hundreds of millions of job postings and new hires for their study, “The Broken Ladder: AI, Remote Work, and Early-Career Hiring.” They found that both AI and remote work appeared linked to the drop in junior hiring. However, when they accounted for remote work, the link with AI vanished.

In other words, it only seems like AI is killing junior software developer jobs because most coding is done remotely. Similarly, other remote-friendly roles (like lawyers) have seen sharp declines in junior hiring. But jobs that require physical presence (like receptionists), even if they use AI heavily, haven’t experienced such a big drop.

How Remote Work Hurts Early-Career Workers

Early-career employees need more supervision and mentorship to learn the ropes. In an office, they build critical skills, knowledge, and social capital by shadowing senior colleagues. Remote work makes onboarding and informal learning much harder, requiring more resources from employers. This slows down promotion prospects and can even keep some young workers out of the labor market entirely.

The Double-Edged Sword of Remote Work

While remote work offers flexibility and work-life balance for mid- and late-career professionals—boosting birth rates and helping parents care for children—it simultaneously harms junior workers. The same benefits that help experienced employees can hinder those just starting their careers.

A Hybrid Solution?

The study doesn’t call for a return to rigid five-day office weeks. Instead, it suggests that a hybrid model—mixing remote and in-office work—may offer the best of both worlds: preserving flexibility while providing the mentorship and networking opportunities that young workers need to thrive.