LinkedIn's Aneesh Raman warns AI threatens entry-level jobs for 2025 graduates

LinkedIn's chief economic opportunity officer, Aneesh Raman, has issued a stark warning about the impact of artificial intelligence on entry-level jobs, particularly for the class of 2025. Raman compares the current AI-driven disruption to the steep decline of the manufacturing sector in the 1980s, emphasizing that "the bottom rung of the career ladder, which is the entry-level employees, will be the first to break."

AI technologies are increasingly performing tasks traditionally done by junior workers, such as simple coding and debugging, which historically served as crucial stepping stones for young professionals. Raman highlights that while the unemployment rate for college graduates has been rising faster than for other groups, there is not yet definitive evidence linking AI directly to this trend.

A recent report by SignalFire reveals a dramatic drop in hiring new graduates at major tech firms like Amazon, Meta, Nvidia, and Tesla — down by more than 50% since 2022. New graduates now constitute only 7% of hires at these companies, a sharp decline from 25% in 2023. Similarly, startups funded by top venture capital firms have reduced new graduate hires from 11% to 6%.

"AI could disproportionately affect young workers by eating up jobs that could help launch their careers," Raman wrote in a New York Times op-ed. He calls for educational institutions to integrate AI into curricula and for companies to assign higher-level tasks to junior roles to better prepare young workers.

The report also notes a perception gap, with 55% of employers believing Gen Z workers struggle with teamwork, and 37% of managers preferring AI over Gen Z hires, underscoring the challenges young workers face in a rapidly evolving job market.

This convergence of AI advancement and shifting employer attitudes signals a critical juncture for the future workforce, especially for new graduates entering an uncertain labor market.

LinkedIn's Aneesh Raman warns that AI threatens entry-level jobs for 2025 graduates, likening the disruption to the 1980s manufacturing decline. AI is replacing tasks once done by junior workers, with hiring at big tech firms down over 50%, raising concerns about young workers' career prospects.