The rapid rise of artificial intelligence is reshaping early-career pathways, exposing more than a third of young workers worldwide to significant task automation and forcing companies to rethink how entry-level jobs are designed.
In a comprehensive report, the World Economic Forum, in collaboration with PwC, said that “globally, more than one in three (37%) young workers are employed in occupations with medium to high exposure to AI-driven task change.”
The exposure is particularly pronounced in some regions, with three in four young workers in East Asia (75%) affected, alongside two in three in North America (69%) and Europe (63%).
The report also found that 45% of entry-level workers are spending more time on tasks due to AI, suggesting that companies may be layering automated processes onto existing workflows rather than restructuring roles altogether.
This trend has contributed to a widening gap between traditional corporate hierarchies and rapidly evolving operational systems, the report said.
As AI adoption accelerates, the pace of change in entry-level job requirements is outstripping traditional training systems.
“Entry-level occupations in the highest AI exposure quartile show around 2.2 times higher net skill change than those in the lowest exposure quartile,” PwC said.
This rapid shift is fueling workforce anxiety, with 28% of entry-level workers believing that half or fewer of their current skills will remain relevant within the next three years.
Globally, more than 500 million people aged 15 to 24 are part of the labor force, underscoring the scale of the transformation.
The report, titled Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Entry-Level Work: A Framework for Safeguarding and Reinventing Early Career Pathways, warned that AI adoption is accelerating the need for structural changes across industries.
Sectors with the highest exposure to AI—particularly for entry-level roles—include financial services, information and communication, professional services, and science and education, the WEF said.
In contrast, sectors such as agriculture, construction, and food services remain less exposed to AI-driven disruption.
Peter Brown, Global Workforce Leader and Partner at PwC United Kingdom, said the issue is increasingly becoming a priority for corporate leaders.
“As entry-level roles become increasingly exposed to AI-driven change, the future of early-career talent is becoming a growing boardroom issue,” Brown said.
“While the gains from AI can be significant, positive outcomes are not automatic. The organizations that succeed will be those that take a deliberate approach to AI adoption while continuing to treat entry-level talent and future capability building as strategic priorities,” he added.
To address these challenges, the WEF outlined a multi-stakeholder framework focused on four key areas: job access, job design, talent pipelines, and education system alignment.
The framework aims to guide organizations in navigating rapid technological change and identifying where intervention is needed to ensure sustainable employment.
“The impact of AI will not be determined by the technology alone. It will be determined by the choices of business leaders, policy-makers, workers, and society,” said Saadia Zahidi.
Brown added that businesses must prioritize protecting access to entry-level roles, redesigning work to maximize human potential, rethinking talent development pathways, and strengthening collaboration with education and training systems to prepare workers for an AI-driven future.
