Newcomers in an AI workforce

Generative AI is creating an uneven job landscape. Experienced professionals generally feel more confident about their prospects, while newcomers are finding it more difficult to gain a foothold, even with a college degree.

Early-career workers in AI-heavy occupations have seen employment decline by about 6% since late 2022, compared with a 6% to 8% increase among more experienced professionals.

Tools like ChatGPT can now handle roughly 60% of the tasks that would traditionally be assigned to junior employees, including:

• Drafting reports and documents
• Data entry and basic analysis
• Handling routine customer inquiries
• Scheduling and coordination

As a result, employers are increasingly expecting new hires to bring advanced technical and analytical skills. Yet entry-level roles are often where employees develop critical capabilities such as judgment, collaboration, and creativity.

Rethinking jobs beyond routine tasks

It's no surprise, then, that nearly 50% of Gen Z job seekers believe AI has reduced the value of their degree.

While automation can reduce costs in the short term, it can also affect long-term talent development and organizational culture. Because AI adoption is often concentrated among senior leaders, organizations should create opportunities for employees at every level by:

• Expanding access to AI tools
• Investing in training and development
• Redesigning roles to enhance human strengths
• Keeping junior employees involved in decision-making
• Rotating new hires into projects that use AI

Empowering the next generation of talent supports both progress and innovation. Organizations that invest in talent from the ground up gain valuable perspectives that help them identify challenges, uncover opportunities, and adapt to change.

Revolutionizing staffing

As the world of work evolves, staffing strategies need to evolve with it. At Adecco, we're helping shape the future of work through strategic partnerships and technology investments, including advancements in automation and generative AI.

Last year, the Adecco Group, our parent company, announced a collaboration with Microsoft to launch a GenAI career platform. We also strengthened our partnership with Salesforce to accelerate the adoption of AI and Data Cloud technologies across our organization.

If you're ready to rethink your staffing strategy, contact Adecco today. We'll help you navigate change, embrace new technologies, and build a workforce that's ready for what's next.

Originally published: October 21, 2025