Young Workers Gravitate Toward AI-Resistant Jobs
New research indicates young workers are increasingly seeking roles with physical labor and social interaction. Employment for younger individuals in AI-exposed fields has significantly declined.
Young workers are increasingly opting for careers less susceptible to automation by artificial intelligence (AI). A recent analysis shows that employment among 22- to 25-year-olds in high AI-exposure professions, such as customer service and software engineering, is 19% lower than it would have been otherwise.
The study, which analyzed payroll data for millions of U.S. workers, found that employment in AI-exposed jobs has decreased by approximately 11% for younger individuals. Conversely, employment has risen by about 10% in less AI-exposed sectors. This divergence has widened considerably since 2022, coinciding with the increased availability of generative AI.
This trend appears to primarily affect younger employees. No similar gap was observed for experienced workers between more and less AI-exposed roles. The research also found no evidence of widespread, economy-wide job displacement driven by AI.
The findings suggest AI is transforming early-career knowledge work, leading to job reductions and anxiety among younger workers. There is also a noted increase in interest for skilled trades, such as construction and plumbing, potentially due to job security concerns.