Automation of any kind is often accompanied by a fear that it could make someone or something unnecessary or irrelevant. For years, job seekers and employees have been told that the best way to remain relevant is to keep their skill set sharp. But artificial intelligence (AI) has flipped the script causing many to ask how to best work with a form of automation many of us don’t quite get.
This is understandable when you consider even those who are creating AI models don’t know the extent to which the technology can and will perform. A 2023 survey from Cengage Group found that worry about the interaction between AI and work also extends to college graduates. An article in Forbes showed 52% of graduates said the growth of AI makes them question how prepared they are for today’s workforce. 46% felt threatened by the new technology, and 55% said their job could never be replaced by AI.
Yet 65% are interested in more training on working with AI. For now, many of us choose to try out AI in small ways such as creating a query on ChatGPT or allowing AI to summarize a list of topics on a favorite search engine.
Impact of AI
But the impact of AI automation could also potentially keep new job seekers out of the workplace before they even arrive. An article from the Wall Street Journal shared that employers plan to hire 5.8% fewer graduates than they did in 2023, according to a spring survey of 226 employers by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
Those surveyed shared that what they look for from entry-level workers looking for employment is changing with AI taking over some of the work that new graduates were originally tasked with. This is not encouraging news for those whose college years were similarly turbulent.
The overall job market looks good with new graduates receiving help from ongoing wage growth, but it could take more time for these graduates to find a white-collar job. In April 2023, more than a third of new graduates had accepted full-time employment and stopped looking. In April of this year, this was true for just under a quarter of new graduates, according to Veris Insights, market research consultants.
Employment Assistance
Considering no one knows where the job market might be heading next, this is a suitable time for new graduates to engage with a staffing expert. Staffing Kansas City is a full-service employment agency providing direct hire, contract-to-hire and temporary placement services, offering flexible work schedules and a gateway to permanent employment.
