simmpler – The presence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has fundamentally changed the employment landscape. Tasks traditionally performed by entry-level workers and fresh graduates, such as data compilation, memo drafting, and minute-taking, are increasingly being automated by AI. A report from the Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR) analyzes how this condition challenges the Fate of Fresh Graduates who are just starting their careers.
The Disappearance of Basic (Entry-Level) Jobs
AI effectively offers a more efficient and effective solution for basic-level work. Jobs related to routine workflow fluency, norms, and supportive tools are increasingly being delegated by companies to AI systems.
The Impact of AI on Fresh Graduates
- Workers “Leapfrog” to Higher Roles: New entrants to the workforce are forced to skip relatively easy entry-level positions and must prepare themselves for job levels that are beyond the scope of AI.
- New Industry Standards: Companies no longer rely on general skills (such as operating specific tools or verification abilities). AI highlights the importance of new standards: analytical, social, and adaptive skills.
- Portfolio Over Diploma: The implementation means companies are now more interested in graduates who possess portfolios, projects, and completed assignments, rather than merely those with specific degrees and good grades on their diplomas.
“AI is reordering work, reshaping the knowledge and skills that matter, and redefining how people are expected to acquire them,” — SSIR Report.
Opportunities for Skill Enhancement Through AI
On the other hand, if used correctly, AI technology can actually democratize expertise.
Individuals, including high school and college graduates, who leverage AI can:
- Enhance Self-Skills: Use AI to train and accelerate the development of new expertise.
- Accelerate Knowledge Access: Speed up access to complex information and data analysis.
- Learn New Disciplines: AI serves as a powerful tool for continuous learning.
The Importance of Redesigning Education and Training Systems
Since AI has taken over basic-level jobs, many companies are reducing their workforce training programs. This underscores the critical need to redesign the education system to meet the demands of the AI era.
SSIR’s Recommendations for Training Systems:
- Creating Hybrid Institutions: High school and college graduates should be unified under an integrated training system focused on the quality and competence of graduates, rather than just academic hierarchy.
- Implementing Work-Based Learning: Structured work experience (internships, collaborations, clinical practices) must become an essential preparation before entering a career.
- Partnerships to Redesign Entry-Level Roles: Companies are encouraged to restructure entry-level jobs so that they include time for learning, mentorship, and have clear promotional pathways linked to demonstrated competencies.
SSIR concludes that if the system can design roles where AI augments human capacity, more people will be able to perform critical jobs faster. This will transform the challenge of AI into a “ladder to fairer and faster opportunities” for the Fate of Fresh Graduates.