Today, many young people are struggling to find their first jobs. Even students with university degrees are facing rejection. At the same time, companies are changing how they hire new workers, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is replacing some entry-level tasks.
So, what should young job seekers do? BBC reporter Katty Kay spoke to Aneesh Raman, an expert from LinkedIn, to find answers.
Fewer Entry-Level Jobs
Over the last five years, LinkedIn asked nearly 500,000 people how they feel about their careers. The results show that young people are more worried than older workers.
One reason is that entry-level job openings have dropped by more than 35% in the U.S. since 2023. Also, 63% of company leaders believe that AI will soon take over many beginner-level tasks.
Katty Kay shared that even her own children, with master’s degrees, are finding it difficult to get jobs. Many young people send out hundreds of CVs but receive only rejection letters. Some people now call this group the “rejection generation.”
How AI Is Changing Careers
Some experts argue about how much AI is responsible. But 41% of professionals say AI changes are affecting their mental health.
Aneesh Raman says we are leaving the old system of careers and entering a new and more flexible one. In the past, people expected to get a good job after earning a degree. But now, skills and personal strengths are becoming more important.
For example, companies want computer scientists who can also understand ethics and communication, not just coding. Some employers ask:
“Do you have a philosophy minor to help us think about what we’re building?”
What Employers Now Look For
In today’s job market, it’s not enough to say, “I have a degree.” You need to explain what skills you gained and how you can apply them.
Even retail jobs, which were not highly valued before, now show useful abilities like resilience and adaptability. Raman says companies will hire people who can explain their unique experiences and energy.
He also believes that Gen Z has something valuable to offer. They grew up with technology and can bring new ideas to business.
What’s Next for Young Workers?
Although entry-level jobs are disappearing, new jobs are also being created. For example, the jobs of “influencer” or “data scientist” didn’t exist 10 or 20 years ago.
By 2030, LinkedIn predicts that 70% of jobs will change. This means even if you keep the same job title, your tasks will be different. Disruption is part of the change.
Some companies will use AI to reduce jobs. Others will use it to build new business opportunities and will need fresh thinkers to lead them.
Raman gives this advice to a young graduate:
“Be proud of who you are. Understand your own strengths. No one can do ‘you’ better than you.”
He explains that we are entering a time when human abilities like curiosity, creativity, and communication are more important than ever. The future of work is about people, not just machines.
Source: bbc.com
Vocabulary for the Article
Graduate – a person who finishes university.
She is a law graduate from Oxford.
Entry-level – a job for people with little experience.
He got an entry-level position at a bank.
Rejection – when someone says “no” to your request.
I felt sad after the job rejection.
CV – a document about your education and work history.
I sent my CV to five companies.
AI – computers that can do smart things like people.
AI is changing how we work and learn.
Career – your working life or job path.
She wants a career in medicine.
Survey – a group of questions to get opinions.
The company made a survey for students.
Platform – a system or website where things happen.
LinkedIn is a great job search platform.
Wellbeing – feeling happy and healthy.
Exercise helps your mental wellbeing.
Skill – something you can do well.
Communication is an important skill.
Resilience – being strong during hard times.
Young people need resilience in today’s world.
Adaptability – the ability to change easily.
Adaptability is key in a fast-changing job market.
Task – a small job or activity.
He finished his daily task quickly.
Ethics – ideas about right and wrong.
We talked about AI and work ethics.
Path – a way to reach a goal.
She chose a new career path in design.
Disruption – a big change that stops normal things.
AI may cause disruption in many jobs.
Opportunity – a good chance for something.
This is a great opportunity to learn.
Economy – the system of jobs and money in a country.
The digital economy is growing fast.
Experience – knowledge from doing things.
He has two years of work experience.
Future – the time after now.
Young people think about their future a lot.
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