The Real Job Destruction from AI is Hitting Before Careers Can Start

This article from Yale Insights explores how artificial intelligence is causing a disruption at the entry-level as companies heavily scale Agentic AI to automate entire workflows. Instead of implementing mass layoffs, many firms are initiating a “big freeze” by slowing down recruitment and using AI to get more productivity out of their existing staff.

As a result, recent college graduates are facing difficulties finding their first jobs, with unemployment among young professionals rising much faster than the rest of the workforce. This shift threatens the corporate talent pipeline as young professionals have less opportunities to build skills in entry-level positions.

“The biggest impact of Agentic AI on jobs will not be the layoffs we can see. It will be the opportunities that never materialize—the first steps into the workforce that quietly disappear before anyone notices.”

Consider: How is the use of AI impacting hiring at your organization or changing your job role? If you’re a young professional, what skills do you need to be developing to make yourself marketable for the job you want?