A stark picture is emerging as artificial intelligence tools gain a foothold in the global workforce.
As AI integration continues to reshape business operations, more companies worldwide are increasingly forgoing human labor and prioritizing AI-driven automation to reduce headcount and operational costs, according to a new study released by the British Standards Institution (BSI).
Surveying more than 850 businesses across seven countries, including the US, UK, France, and China, the BSI report, Flourishing in the AI Workforce, found that business organizations have accelerated the integration of AI to fill skills gaps and reduce costs to the detriment of entry-level roles.
This spells bad news for young people, especially recent college grads, looking to kickstart their careers.
Generation Jaded: jobs automated, dreams eroded
According to the study, nearly one-third of executives report that their organizations now consider AI solutions before hiring new employees, while 39% admit that entry-level positions have already been reduced or eliminated due to AI streamlining.
Furthermore, a quarter of the leaders surveyed believe that most or all tasks traditionally performed by junior staff can be handled by AI, signaling a widespread shift in the traditional trajectory of skills development within organizations.
BSI has coined this career-altering disruption the rise of “Generation Jaded,” shorthand for “jobs automated, dreams eroded,” in an attempt to capture the economic and emotional toll facing young workers as they enter a job market undergoing revolutionary AI-driven changes.
This widening gap between workforce development and technological advancement is evident in the report, with analysis revealing that the word “automation” appeared nearly seven times more frequently than terms such as “upskilling” or “retraining.”
“AI represents an enormous opportunity for businesses globally, but as they chase greater productivity and efficiency, we must not lose sight of the fact that it is ultimately people who power progress,” said Susan Taylor Martin, CEO of BSI, according to the Guardian.
She added: “Our research makes clear that the tension between making the most of AI and enabling a flourishing workforce is the defining challenge of our time. There is an urgent need for long-term thinking and workforce investment, alongside investment in AI tools, to ensure sustainable and productive employment.”
Halting deepening tech divides
The BSI study reports that more than half of the business leaders surveyed said they felt fortunate to have begun their careers before the widespread adoption of AI. Yet, 53% of them are optimistic that the benefits of AI will outweigh its disruptions, underscoring the ambivalence at the tension point between the empowering use of AI and its potential threat to the workforce.
Large organizations, however, are forging ahead and reaping the benefits of early investments in automation technologies, especially in profitable sectors such as manufacturing and finance. Forty-one percent of business leaders reported that AI will enable them to reduce employee numbers, while 76% expected to see measurable benefits from tools within a year.
For small and medium-sized enterprises lacking the capital to invest in advanced AI platforms and data infrastructures, the gains are much slower to materialize, further deepening the divide between high-tech industries and traditional employers.
To stymie what tech insiders are calling a “job-pocalypse,” the report urges coordinated action among governments, businesses, and educational institutions to promote sustainable employment alongside AI innovation. In addition to advocating for investment in reskilling, digital literacy, and lifelong learning to prepare workers of all ages for evolving roles, the report also calls for embedding ethics, transparency, and workforce planning into corporate AI strategies.
Want to see which jobs are most vulnerable to automation next? Check out eWeek’s deep dive into “What Jobs Will AI Replace?” for a look at 10 roles already at risk — and what skills might help you survive the shift.
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