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https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/oct/09/gen-z-face-job-pocalypse-as-global-firms-prioritise-ai-over-new-hires-report-says>
"Young people entering the workforce are facing a “job-pocalypse”, as business
leaders invest in artificial intelligence (AI) rather than new hires, according
to a study of global business leaders.
Bosses are prioritising automation through AI to plug skills gaps and allow
them to reduce headcount, instead of training up junior members of staff, a
report by the British Standards Institution (BSI) found.
Four in 10 (41%) of bosses said AI was allowing them to cut the number of
employees in a survey of more than 850 business leaders across seven countries:
the UK, US, France, Germany, Australia, China and Japan.
Nearly a third (31%) of those surveyed said their organisation was looking at
AI solutions before considering hiring a person, with two-fifths expecting this
to be the case within five years.
In a sign of the challenges facing workers belonging to gen Z – born between
1997 and 2012 – at a time when the labour market is cooling, a quarter of
bosses said they believed that all or most tasks carried out by entry-level
colleagues could be performed by AI.
Susan Taylor Martin, chief executive of BSI, said: “AI represents an enormous
opportunity for businesses globally, but as they chase greater productivity and
efficiency, we must not lose sight of the fact that it is ultimately people who
power progress.
“Our research makes clear that the tension between making the most of AI and
enabling a flourishing workforce is the defining challenge of our time. There
is an urgent need for long-term thinking and workforce investment, alongside
investment in AI tools, to ensure sustainable and productive employment.”
In addition, two-fifths (39%) of leaders said entry-level roles had already
been reduced or cut as a result of efficiencies made by using AI tools to
conduct research or carry out administrative and briefing tasks."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
