According to a recent study, nearly nine out of ten companies anticipate that artificial intelligence will change entry-level positions in three years.
In a poll of 144 businesses, the Institute of Student Employers (ISE) discovered that 87% of respondents thought AI would soon alter the structure of graduate and apprentice positions.
While 40% of respondents indicated there would be less job losses, nearly one in five (18%) projected that the technology would displace many employment.
More than 10% of employment were considered to be replaced on a larger scale.
Additionally, 43% of respondents claimed that although their entry-level positions had not been explicitly revised, they had already changed in reaction to AI.
When asked what changes graduates will need to make for AI, 29% of companies stated there would be “significant” changes, while 58% said they would be “minor.”
56% of employers in the tourist industry predicted significant change, compared to 41% in the legal sector.
The survey coincides with concerns that junior positions, which are usually filled by career beginners, may become obsolete due to AI’s ease of replication.
According to a recent study, nearly nine out of ten companies anticipate that AI will change entry-level positions in three years (file picture).
They frequently include monotonous work and require less sophisticated decision-making.
“While some entry-level roles will drastically change in scope, the shift is less about jobs disappearing and more about tasks evolving,” stated Stephen Isherwood, joint chief executive of ISE.
AI will eliminate some of the more mundane administrative tasks, but graduates and apprentices will still need to have good judgement and strong critical thinking skills.
“Thought and effort have always been important, but in the AI era, they will become even more crucial for success.”New personnel need to be prepared to adjust to changing needs as the rate of change quickens.
The skills that ISE members—large employers of graduates and apprentices—seek may alter, according to their Student Development Survey.
They informed researchers that while regular administrative, basic data, and writing activities will become less important, critical thinking, AI literacy, communication, and adaptability will become more important.
Many stated that they were funding mental health services for employees who were experiencing burnout or concerns about their future careers.
But ISE also discovered increased worries about candidates’ potential usage of AI during the hiring process.
Compared to about half in 2025, two-thirds of businesses said graduates and apprentices were using AI to misrepresent skills this year.
There are about 750 members of the ISE, which was originally known as the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR).
