AI Won't Steal Your Job After Graduation: Here's What Research Really Says About Future Careers

The AI Job Market Reality

Amid growing concerns that AI will wipe out entry-level jobs, many students are feeling anxious about their future career prospects. The head of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, has warned that young people will suffer the most as an AI "tsunami" wipes out many entry-level roles in coming years.

"Tasks that are eliminated are usually what entry-level jobs do at present, so young people searching for jobs find it harder to get to a good placement."

Georgieva is not alone. Other economic and business experts have warned about AI taking entry-level jobs, creating uncertainty for graduates entering the workforce.

Current Research Findings

At the moment, the impact of AI is uneven and depends on the industry. A 2025 report from US think tank the Brookings Institution suggests, in general, AI adoption has led to employment and firm growth. Most importantly, AI has not led to widespread job loss.

Consulting firm McKinsey notes many businesses are experimenting with AI and redesigning how they work. So, some organisations are seeking more technically skilled employees.

Crucially, AI is affecting each industry differently. So, we might see fewer entry-level jobs in some industries, but more in others, or growth in specialist roles.

For example, international researchers have noted agriculture has been a slow adopter of AI. By contrast, media and communications are seeing rapid AI implementation, already affecting jobs from advertising to entertainment industries. Here we are seeing storyboard illustrators, copywriters and virtual effects artists increasingly being replaced by AI.

How to Prepare While Studying

Students can build their knowledge and skills about AI while they are studying. Specifically, students should look to move from "AI literacy" to "AI fluency". This means understanding not just how AI works in an industry, but also how it can be used innovatively in different contexts.

If these elements are not already offered by your course, you can look at online guides and specific courses offered by universities, TAFE or other providers.

Students who are already familiar with AI can keep expanding their knowledge and skills. These students can discover the latest research from the world's key publishers and keep up to date with other AI research news.

For students who aren't really interested in AI, it's still important to start getting to grips with the technology. Getting curious initially about three key things: opportunities, concerns and questions. These three elements can be especially helpful for getting across industry developments: how AI is being used, what issues it's raising, and which impacts still need to be explored.

Free online courses, such as AI For Everyone and the Elements of AI, can help familiarise virtually anyone with the technology.

Developing Essential Skills

All students, no matter how familiar they are with AI, can also concentrate on developing general competencies that can apply across any industry. US researchers have pinpointed six key "durable skills" for the AI age:

• Effective communication, to engage with others successfully
• Good adaptability, to respond to workplace, industry and broader social changes
• Strong emotional intelligence, to help everyone thrive in a workplace
• High-quality creativity, to work with AI in innovative ways
• Sound leadership, to help navigate the challenges that AI creates
• Robust critical thinking, to deal with AI-related problems

Look for opportunities to foster these skills in and out of class. This could include engaging in teamwork, joining a club or society, doing voluntary work, or getting paid work experience.

The Ethical Dimension

Finally, students need to consider the ethical issues this new technology creates. Research suggests AI is bringing about changes in ethics across industries and students need to know how to approach AI dilemmas.

For example, they need to feel confident tackling questions about when to use and not use AI, and whether the technology's environmental impacts outweigh its benefits in different situations.

Students can do this through focused discussions with classmates, facilitated by teachers to tease out the issues. They can also do dedicated courses on AI ethics.