(London) A global survey of senior executives reveals that young people entering the workforce are facing a "job apocalypse" challenge as business leaders prefer to invest in artificial intelligence (AI) to drive automation rather than expanding or developing entry-level employees.
The Guardian reported that a report released by the British Standards Institution (BSI) surveyed over 850 senior executives from seven countries—the UK, the US, France, Germany, Australia, China, and Japan—and found that 41% of respondents said AI had enabled them to reduce staff, 31% said they were evaluating AI solutions before hiring, and approximately 25% expected this practice to become commonplace within the next five years.
The report also revealed that 39% of executives believe that efficiency gains from using AI for research, administration, and reporting have led to the reduction or elimination of entry-level positions.
For Generation Z job seekers (born between 1997 and 2012), this trend means that traditional "entry-level" jobs are being replaced by AI. It is reported that a quarter of the executives surveyed believe that all or most of the tasks of entry-level employees could be replaced by AI.
In the report, BSI CEO Martin warned that while AI presents enormous opportunities for businesses, "ultimately, it is people who drive progress." He pointed out that the decisive challenge of our time is how to cultivate a prosperous and sustainable workforce while pursuing productivity and efficiency.
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Martin called on companies to plan for the long term, increase investment in employee skills and career development, and synchronize such investments with the deployment of AI tools to ensure that employment is both sustainable and productive.
