AI Hits Young Workers Hard as Early-Career Jobs Decline

TDT | Manama

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A new study from Stanford’s Digital Economy Lab shows that early-career workers are feeling the impact of AI more than anyone else. Young professionals aged 22 to 25 in AI-exposed fields, such as software engineering and customer service, have seen a 13% drop in employment since late 2022 — even as overall jobs in the economy continue to grow.

The research suggests that AI is reshaping the workforce, acting as both a disruptor and a tool to understand its effects. Co-author Erik Brynjolfsson said, “It was really striking to see such a sharp effect for certain categories and not others.”

Interestingly, older workers in the same high-AI exposure roles are not seeing the same declines. Employment for workers over 30 in these fields has actually grown by 6-12%, likely due to experience and seniority. Meanwhile, hands-on jobs like healthcare aides and taxi drivers have remained stable or even increased, suggesting that AI is not affecting all sectors equally.

The study also highlights roles where AI complements rather than replaces humans. Jobs where AI helps humans learn or validate their work have seen growth, pointing to a future where collaboration with AI may create new opportunities. Brynjolfsson emphasized, “If we want to create not just higher productivity, but widely shared prosperity, using AI to augment and not just automate work is a good direction to go.”

Co-author Bharat Chandar told TIME that the findings strongly suggest AI automation, rather than factors like COVID or education shifts, is reshaping who gets hired. The researchers even used AI to analyze the data and help write the paper, demonstrating the technology’s “augmentative” potential.

The study underscores a key takeaway: early-career workers in AI-automatable roles are the most vulnerable, while smart and thoughtful AI use could open new opportunities across industries.