The traditional progression through which workers develop professional skills faces fundamental disruption from artificial intelligence. Entry-level positions have historically served as training grounds where workers learn both technical capabilities and workplace norms. As AI automates these roles, questions arise about how future workers will acquire essential skills.
Projections show 60% of jobs in advanced economies will be affected by AI, compared to 40% globally. While approximately 10% of jobs in wealthy nations have been enhanced by AI—typically with positive wage effects—the elimination of skill development pathways creates distinct challenges. The tasks that build foundational capabilities are precisely those most vulnerable to automation.
Young workers face a skill development crisis as traditional learning opportunities disappear. The hands-on experience provided by entry-level roles can’t easily be replicated through education alone. This creates potential gaps in workforce capabilities that could affect productivity and innovation in the longer term.
Middle-income workers also confront skill challenges as AI transforms their roles. Those whose work isn’t augmented by AI may find their existing skills increasingly mismatched to market demands. Without clear pathways for skill development and adaptation, these workers risk long-term economic decline.
Educational and training systems struggle to adapt to AI-driven changes in skill requirements. Traditional approaches built around sequential skill development through work experience may not function in labor markets where entry-level positions have been automated. Labor organizations call for new models of skill development that account for AI’s impact. International cooperation could facilitate sharing of effective approaches, but economic nationalism threatens to limit such collaboration.