Early-career
Every story that matters to the early-career professional, with one sentence on what it concretely means for them. 125 stories, newest first.
November 2026
AI is shrinking entry-level jobs and hitting Hungarian graduatesJunior positions are shrinking, so it is hard to get in without internship and project experience and familiarity with AI tools.AI is rewriting entry-level work, putting the junior talent pipeline and career ladder at riskDirecting and checking AI tools has become the entry-level task; this is the skill to demonstrate.AI squeezes fresh graduates' prospects across AsiaRoles that require no experience are weakening, so familiarity with AI tools and a practical project are an advantage.Anthropic CEO warns AI could erase a large share of entry-level jobs as company heads to Wall StreetLeaders of AI developers say entry-level jobs are the most exposed.
Oct 2026
AI threatens entry-level graduate jobs across Southeast AsiaUsing AI and assessing it critically may become a condition of entry.US industry leaders call for training 1.7 million skilled tradespeople a year as AI advancesSkilled trades are an alternative career path that is less exposed to AI.Connecticut builds AI workforce training hub with universities and $20 million fundingUniversity–state partnerships are opening entry routes into tech.Goldman: job growth is weaker in industries adopting AI fasterThe effect shows mainly in hiring, so entry into AI-affected industries is harder.Toshiba HR chief says entry-level workers should use AI more, not lessActive use of AI tools at entry level is an advantage, not a risk.Graduate job ads fall 22% and hit decade low as AI and costs weigh on entry-level hiringThe entry level is narrowing, so practical experience and AI skills need to be built during studies.IIT Madras study: AI to automate tasks rather than eliminate jobs en masse in IndiaAs an Indian fresher, with IT firms hiring less, you need to build competence and AI skills.US computer science enrolment falls and junior developer hiring drops as AI cuts entry-level jobsApplicants for junior developer roles need to demonstrate skill in using AI tools.Bank of Korea says AI and IT shift are eroding quality of youth jobsFor young people, regular jobs at large companies are becoming scarcer.Entry-level jobs are shrinking, according to Stanford, Korn Ferry and Hungarian articlesEntry-level positions are shrinking, so it is hard to get in without practical projects, an internship and use of AI tools.Anthropic's junior technical hiring share falls from 27% to 9%Even at companies that build AI, the entry level is narrowing, so graduates need projects and AI skills to stand out.Nearly half of employers say AI makes a degree more importantA degree remains a screening criterion, so it is not worth giving up even in the AI era.Singapore launches year-long internships for 3,000 students to counter AI threat to entry-level jobsLong internship programmes are a public-policy response to the shrinking entry level, so it is worth looking for similar opportunities at home.Junior jobs shrink at Anthropic as AI agents work six times more hoursJunior positions at AI developers are shrinking, so entry requires distinctive skills.McKinsey makes job applicants debate an AI client in interviewsBuild arguing with an AI partner into your preparation for consulting interviews.India: AI skills redraw the entry-level jobs map as IT-BPM fresher hiring reboundsAI skills now differentiate candidates in IT-BPM entry-level jobs too, so applicants should bring practical AI know-how.Companies, including Bosch, bring AI training to Hungarian schoolsSchool-based AI training can build skills before entry-level jobs.Two-thirds of UK graduate employers say students have cheated with AI in job interviewsAI-assisted answers can be detected, so candidates should demonstrate real knowledge.IMF chief warns AI is hitting jobs like a slow-moving tsunamiFirst jobs may become scarcer, so it is worth building AI skills and project work into your CV now.AI erodes entry-level jobs, leaving HR to rebuild the talent pipelineShow business judgement and automation skills, as the new entry-level roles are built on them.US entry-level programmer employment has fallen 20%Stand out with a portfolio and real project work, as junior developer positions are shrinking.Fewer than 5% of Australian entry-level jobs involve AI, study findsAI skills are still rarely a requirement at entry level, so proficiency can set a candidate apart.Economist behind the 'China shock' calls AI a paradoxical 'skill-disequalizer' for Gen Z workersYoung people who use AI well may gain an advantage, while those with weaker foundations may fall behind.Hungarian graphic designers: profession not disappearing, but entry-level experience at riskEarly-career creatives should prove themselves with an independent portfolio and an AI-assisted workflow.NZIER says youth unemployment in New Zealand is at crisis level, AI may make recovery harderYoung people may find it structurally harder to get jobs, so it is important to start building skills early.UK graduate job postings fall 45.6% to record low as employers cut hiring because of AIWith fewer entry-level postings, internship and networking channels are gaining in value.US payroll data shows young workers' jobs are most affected by AIFewer entry-level openings are advertised in AI-exposed fields, so it is worth searching through several channels and internships.Hungarian graduates: AI cuts the bottom rung of the career ladder, rewriting the entry levelStand out with internship and project references and responsible use of AI tools.Skill erosion and a 'verification tax' emerge as side effects of AI at workTo gain experience, it is worth practising the basics without AI as well.Asia: China's youth unemployment, Thai graduates' struggles, Hong Kong's AI talent planIn Asia too, competition is intensifying at AI-exposed entry levels, so practical AI skills give an edge.
September 2026
Ford CEO and Anthropic study: AI to complement blue-collar work, not replace itSkilled-trade careers look more stable against AI over the longer term.Half of Hungarians use AI to find information, but still look for jobs on job portalsThe 18–29 age group uses AI most actively, and it is worth putting this to use in the job search too.BLS analysis: more than 200,000 creative jobs lost in the US since 2022Entry-level creative positions are shrinking, so it is worth building on a portfolio and knowledge of AI tools.Ottawa funds 10,000 AI work placements for young CanadiansFunded AI placements are opening for young Canadians as a way into the workforce.Entry-level job ladder thins as the college premium weakens, analyses sayEntry-level positions are shrinking, so a record of practical work done with AI is worth more than a degree alone.NBER study: AI has not yet raised unemployment among recent college graduatesThe data suggest that early-career workers' weaker prospects cannot yet be attributed to AI, so job searches are best built on skills that can be acquired.India's white-collar hiring grows 2% in September while AI/ML jobs rise above 20%Traditional entry-level IT positions are shrinking, so it is worth building on AI and specialist skills.Skills erosion: AI limits learning and raises questions over training of new entrantsAlongside relying on AI, you should deliberately practise core skills.Hungarian skilled trades: well-paid jobs without a degree that are hard to fillVocational training can offer good earnings prospects without a degree.Economists expect slightly steadier hiring but warn of AI wage pressure for college graduatesIn starting-salary negotiations, present AI proficiency as a distinct asset.AI is taking over entry-level grunt work, putting the talent pipeline at riskLook specifically for roles that offer hands-on practice, because classic entry-level positions are shrinking.AI created recession-like job market for some new graduates, but unemployment data does not yet confirm itWith a computer science degree, entry-level positions may be scarcer, so it is worth searching across several fields and roles.Goldman Sachs: AI hiring headwinds hit white-collar and entry-level jobs firstExposure is greatest in entry-level roles, so look for new routes to gaining experience.Hungarian recruitment: AI screening, CV mistakes and the risks of recorded interviewsRecent graduates need a new strategy because of AI filters.AI adoption is driving hiring, but mostly for senior rolesEntry-level positions offer fewer chances, so internship and project-based routes matter more.China's youth unemployment reaches 18.9% as AI adds pressureA solo AI-based startup can be an alternative in a tough entry-level market.South Korea and Hong Kong: young workers' jobs shrink in AI-exposed areasEntry into AI-exposed industries is narrowing, so it is worth looking at alternative sectors too.Pew survey: most people worldwide fear AI-driven job lossesYoung people's concern is also visible in the entry-level market.Hungarian graduates struggle to find work as AI reshapes the entry levelEntry-level positions come with ever higher expectations, so you need to show practical experience and AI use.AI build-out is hiring skilled trades: construction, trades and chip manufacturingVocational training may offer a more secure entry path into building AI infrastructure.If AI takes the junior jobs, who will become the experts?Employers look for human skills and the ability to work alongside AI: that is what you need to demonstrate.Hungarian universities to launch joint AI bachelor's programme from 2027From 2027, a new AI-focused undergraduate path opens for prospective students.New York data: AI is eating entry-level tech jobsApplying for entry-level roles, it is hard to stand out without practical projects and use of AI tools.UN: global youth unemployment at 12.4%, about three times the national average in ChinaYouth unemployment is high worldwide, so early-career workers need a skill profile that does not rest on a single pillar.More than 1m young people out of work in Britain as AI may threaten more jobsShort AI bootcamps can offer an accessible way in, but the content and employer recognition should be checked.AI-era graduates face weak starting pay and employmentIn starting salary negotiations, be realistic about the weak market; AI is not the only cause.IWG survey: AI could speed Gen Z's path to managementUsing AI can speed the move into a management role.Prime minister says AI and firms' preference for skilled workers drive youth unemploymentGetting a first job is becoming harder, and the issue is on the political agenda.Big Law first-year hiring set to plunge as history and AI collideJunior lawyers need AI proficiency and client-facing skills.AI is reshaping US entry-level office jobs as unemployment among recent graduates risesEntry-level tasks are changing; it is harder to get started without practical experience and AI use.AI is hurting job prospects of UK computer science graduates and young peopleDemand on the entry-level software development track has fallen; AI bootcamps and hands-on AI skills can serve as a counterweight.UBS makes AI proficiency a hiring requirement for junior investment bankersIn interviews, be ready to justify AI use with specific goals, verification steps and responsible use.Hungarian graduates: bottom rung of career ladder gone, expectations risingAlongside university, it is worth building hands-on project work that uses AI; "junior position, senior expectations" is the norm.Cognizant to hire 1,500 graduates while putting AI exposure at $4.5tnIT services firms are opening up to recent graduates again, but AI skills are becoming an expected entry-level capability.Record 12.7 million Chinese graduates face entry-level jobs hollowed out by AICompetition for entry-level positions is rising; practical skills demonstrated with AI tools are an advantage.US job market favours workers without degrees and chip-plant jobs as office tech roles shrinkPractical vocational training offers an alternative route into the workforce.Kia and LG CNS announce hiring drives for AI and robotics graduatesEntry-level positions are open in AI and robotics.BLS projects net job growth through 2035 despite AI-driven decline in 58 occupationsWhen choosing a career, look at BLS projections and AI exposure together.US bishops urge safeguards for low-wage and young workers in the AI eraProtecting young workers is becoming a social and political issue.AI is devaluing the degree as graduates' learning path narrowsA degree alone is worth less; demonstrable practical skill matters more and more.Nearly 65,000 jobs lost in Romania in a year, with labour-market entrants worst offEntry is hard in the region, and the labour-market situation is worsening.Three-quarters of Hungarian university students use AI weekly, but universities lag behindRecent graduates typically enter the workforce as experienced AI users, which is worth stating in applications.Six of the ten fastest-growing US jobs are in one industry, and it is not techFields less exposed to AI risk also offer good prospects.Students and young adults rethink careers and grow more fearful because of AIThe impact of AI is already a factor to weigh when choosing a major.
August 2026
AI is narrowing entry-level jobs rather than causing mass job lossesEntry-level positions are shrinking, so it is worth deliberately seeking practical settings where you can still learn the basic tasks as a human.US information sector lost 22,000 jobs in August; junior developer roles down 15%Entering as a junior developer is harder, so a portfolio and proven project work may become decisive.Nvidia's Jensen Huang: AI will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, including in the tradesA career in the skilled trades is a realistic alternative to office careers exposed to AI.AI could put 2.5 million white-collar jobs in Kenya at riskThe shrinking of entry-level office jobs is also showing up in emerging markets.AI squeezes out young workers in Korea's rigid job market as government raises youth budgetProgrammes supporting young people's entry into the workforce are expanding.Tokyo firm offers AI-savvy graduates four times the average salaryOutstanding offers exist for graduates skilled in AI and business development, but selection is extremely strict.Young people see the future of work too narrowly: it will not need only AI researchersWhen choosing a career, consider a broader range of skills, not just the AI researcher path.In Korea, KT doubles new-graduate hiring while Nexon replaces coding test with AI skills evaluationKorean examples show that the ability to use AI is an assessed skill in entry-level hiring.AI's equality paradox: weaker performers gain more, but there is a catchAI can speed up catching up for newcomers.Stanford: employment gap for 22–25-year-olds in AI-exposed jobs widens to 19%Rather than AI-exposed (routine and knowledge-based) entry-level roles, aim for tasks and skills where AI does not replace the entry level.UK graduate job vacancies fall by almost half in a yearIn the UK, new graduates are applying for far fewer advertised positions than before, so competition is tougher.Surveys: younger workers are more afraid of AI, older workers more optimisticFear is high among entry-level candidates, so showing AI use and a development path improves employer appeal.Young people turn to trades, but firms do not advertise enough apprenticeshipsA trade career looks AI-proof, but apprenticeship places are a bottleneck, so training providers should be sought early.ILO: youth unemployment is rising as AI risk growsWith youth unemployment rising, it is worth turning to practical training and AI boot camps.Graduates flood the Hungarian job market this autumn amid tighter hiring and AI-reshaped entry-level rolesEntry-level tasks are changing, so it is worth showing AI skills and concrete results in a first application.Software engineer jobs are rebounding, but mostly for senior rolesEntering as a junior developer is harder, so standing out requires a portfolio and fast performance supported by AI tools.Junior consultants called back to office as AI raises demand for human skillsFor junior consultants, human skills such as client relations and on-site presence are moving to the fore.AI skills in cybersecurity job postings double as junior hiring stallsEntry-level cybersecurity candidates need tangible evidence of using AI tools.Romania: young job seekers get less feedback from AI recruitmentBecause feedback is lacking, applications must be sent through several channels at once.Goldman: entry-level and junior white-collar workers most exposed to AI displacementApplications for junior roles should be backed by distinctive professional evidence, such as projects or a portfolio, that complements AI.South Korea: youth employment falls sharply in AI-exposed sectors, Bank of Korea saysYoung jobseekers should look at roles outside AI-exposed sectors, or those that AI can complement.LinkedIn: millennials and Gen Z land fast-growing, well-paid AI jobsFor AI-related positions, apply with targeted training and a portfolio.Hungarian banks and executives: AI knowledge is displacing the degreeAlongside university, try to show a real AI project or internship.Recent US graduates blame AI for a tough job market; economists are not convincedJob-search difficulty should not be read solely as an AI effect, so it is worth weighing both the degree and sector exposure.Global youth unemployment reaches 12.4%, with AI putting entry-level jobs at riskBecause entry-level positions are shrinking, school leavers should also consider internship and apprenticeship routes.World Bank: India's entry-level white-collar jobs already shrinking due to AIFor entry-level office jobs, it is worth strengthening judgement and data analysis rather than routine skills.AI is reshaping the junior-to-senior developer path in software engineeringOn the junior developer path, showing supervised work supplemented with AI tools can be the way in.Singapore's NTUC plans to secure jobs for graduates and older workers in the AI eraProgrammes offered to graduates are worth using in the job search.Workers split on whether junior colleagues should use AIKnow your company's AI policy before using AI in your work.Meituan's 2027 campus hiring focuses on AI; Hong Kong announces AI upskillingIn campus recruitment at large Asian companies, an AI profile is an advantage.Gen Z men leave the labor force as AI threatens entry-level hiringRather than dropping out, young men should consider rejoining the labor market through short courses or apprenticeships.South Korean bills would make employers, not AI vendors, bear the cost of AI job cutsYoung workers are under pressure, so it is important to develop skills that AI can complement.AI bootcamps launch in the UK to tackle youth unemploymentAI bootcamps can offer an entry point to young people who are neither studying nor working.AI job losses in Australia are more complicated than the numbers suggestJunior positions are the most vulnerable, so building skills is urgent.ILO: global youth unemployment rises, with AI putting entry-level jobs at riskWith entry-level positions shrinking, it is worth prioritising practical skills that AI can complement, as well as work placements.Entry-level jobs: AI is rewriting requirements, and half of CHROs plan to expand hiringEntry-level roles require specialised, AI-augmented skills, so it is worth proving them through projects.Hong Kong among world leaders in AI use at over 70%, but little training offeredYoung people fear job loss more, so they should focus on building skills.Hungarian government plans new university programmes, possibly including an AI master'sAs AI programmes expand, new learning options open up for young people choosing a field of study.AI reshapes record graduate job race; 67% of UK employers worriedAn AI-written application may attract suspicion, so personal examples matter.AI skills lift campus placement salaries in IndiaGraduates with AI skills receive higher starting salaries.Entry-level software jobs in Pakistan fall 25% because of AIEntering software as a junior is getting harder, so it is worth building on demonstrable projects done with AI tools.Grindr CEO says AI is doing the work of 200 additional engineersRather than growing engineering demand, AI substitution may show up in hiring plans.Hungarian expert: study occupations and human skills that AI can hardly replaceWhen choosing a career, consider the risk of replacement and occupations that AI can complement.Temple study: remote work, rather than AI, may be hurting young job seekersDifficulty getting in has several causes, so in-person presence and networking also matter.Junior coding and entry-level jobs vanish with AI, damaging the career ladderWith the core tasks gone, practical experience has to be made up through mentored projects.AI infrastructure build-out drives demand for trades, with electricians offered up to $280,000Physical trades that do not require a degree are an attractive alternative.South Korea's youth unemployment deepens as AI and shrinking entry-level jobs weighEntry-level positions are shrinking, so internships and project-based experience become more valuable.