Will AI Steal our Children’s Jobs?

First Jobs and AI

It’s results season again. Across the UK, thousands of teenagers have been opening their envelopes and discovering their GCSE and A Level results. There’s joy, relief, maybe even some disappointment. But once the dust settles, the same question comes up in every household: what happens next?

I’m taking a slightly different slant on my blog writing for a few weeks, focusing on AI. My new role as Digital Transformation lead is giving me some hands on insight into how AI is impacting the world of work and how we might lead in the future.

As a mother of 2 teenagers, I have found myself thinking often about the impact AI will have on their lives. For our children, stepping into the world of work feels very different from when we did it. Back then, you “earned your stripes” through months — sometimes years — of repetitive admin tasks. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was a way in. Now, those entry-level roles are the very ones disappearing the fastest.

Recent reports suggest a third fewer graduate roles are available compared to just a few years ago.

• PwC, one of the largest employers of graduates, has cut its intake significantly.

• Graduate job postings are down 33% year-on-year — the lowest level since 2018, according to Indeed and the Times.

• Entry-level vacancies have plunged 32% since ChatGPT’s November 2022 launch, across graduate jobs, apprenticeships, and junior roles according to the Guardian.

 Add rising competition, algorithm-driven applications, and shrinking admin roles — and it’s clear our traditional pathways for young people are shifting fast.

 From resource to potential

 In my own day job, I’ve seen this change first-hand. A few years ago, we relied on graduates as “pieces of resource” to churn through data and perform repetitive tasks. Today, AI does most of that work in seconds. And if it can’t, it will in another 6-12 months.

 Our plan is to reduce the number of graduates we need. I think this is the new reality for most firms, making it more difficult for our young adults to find that first step onto the ladder.

 But here’s the part that gives me hope: instead of being stuck in admin for months, our graduates will now spend a few weeks learning the task, understanding the process — and then they move on. They’re free to take on more creative, strategic challenges far earlier.

 Rather than earning their stripes through monotony, they’re being encouraged to grow into the leaders of tomorrow.

  Reframing the fear

 Yes, the world of work is shifting fast. Yes, many of the jobs we once took for granted are disappearing. But this doesn’t have to mean scarcity. It can mean abundance.

 AI is stripping away the boring parts of work. What’s left are the tasks that require imagination, empathy, problem-solving and human connection. In other words: the qualities our children already bring in spades.

It’s true that we now need fewer roles  in our traditional set-up. But I’m confident that new opportunities are being created. Already, I see demand for entirely new skillsets: AI agent builders, knowledge managers who curate the right data for AI tools, and these are roles that didn’t even exist a year ago.

AI isn’t just removing jobs. It’s transforming them — and creating space for new ones.

“That all sounds great Jo but how do I prepare my teens for that first role?”

So, how do we help our children get ready for a future where their first job might look very different to ours? Here are some starting points:

1. Play with AI early

   Encourage your teen to experiment with free tools like ChatGPT. Get them to use it for brainstorming, planning revision schedules, or generating ideas for a project. The earlier they see AI as a partner, not a threat, the better. Many schools and colleges push back on AI because of plagiarism worries. Yet the real opportunity lies in teaching young people when to avoid it — and when it can be a super-useful partner to spark ideas or speed up learning.

2. Fuel creativity

   Whether it’s music, coding, art, or writing — side projects show initiative and imagination. These are the sparks that stand out far more than another line on a CV.

3. Build real experiences

   Volunteering, part-time jobs, or small entrepreneurial projects all count. A portfolio of “things I’ve created or solved” is far more valuable than “I once photocopied for six months.”

4. Learn to learn fast

   The most employable skill of all is adaptability. Trying (and dropping) new skills, from coding basics to languages, shows resilience and agility.

5. Grow human skills

   Collaboration, communication, empathy — these are the areas no machine can master. Encourage teamwork, presentations, debates, anything that builds confidence in connecting with others.

 Looking ahead

So no, AI won’t ‘steal’ our children’s first jobs. It will redefine them. For now, graduate opportunities are thinner on the ground, but this is only the in-between. As businesses learn to harness AI, they’ll create entirely new roles where young people’s creativity and energy can thrive.

 Results day might feel like the big milestone right now, but the real journey is just beginning. Their future will be defined not by grades alone, but by creativity, adaptability, and the courage to see AI as a tool for amplification, not replacement.

 The question for us as parents, leaders, and coaches is: How do we nurture those qualities today?

 Maybe start by asking yourself: What’s one skill, one project, or one curiosity you could explore this month with your teen to help them feel future-ready?  And if your teen would only grunt at the question (mine would!), try something simple like cooking a meal together using a recipe in another language, experimenting with an AI tool for fun, or brainstorming a mini project they’d actually enjoy.

 Because the future won’t wait — and our kids are more ready than they think.

 Next time, I’ll explore How we can reimagine the “first job” in the AI era  and why businesses need to think differently about early talent.