The Deloitte results highlight younger employees’ growing anxiety around AI replacing jobs — and the actions they’re taking to enhance their very own job security. Deloitte’s survey of 1,874 full- and part-time employees from the US, Canada, India, and Australia — roughly two-thirds of whom are early profession employees — found that 34% are pursuing knowledgeable qualification or certification courses, 32% are starting their very own businesses or becoming self-employed, and 28% are even adding part-time contractor or gig work to complement their income.
Deloitte
The tech market is already showing signs of a decline in entry-level roles, as organizations increasingly require more years of experience, even for junior positions. In fields reminiscent of cybersecurity, where AI is rapidly advancing, entry-level analyst roles often demand a minimum of 4 years of experience, in accordance with Deloitte.
Employees’ fears usually are not misplaced. The rapid advance of AI may lead to significant job displacement: Goldman Sachs, for instance, predicts that AI could displace 300 million full-time jobs globally, affecting as much as two-thirds of jobs in Europe and the US. Similarly, McKinsey Global Institute estimates that 12 million people might really need to vary professions by 2030. And a study published by the European Student Think Tank found that AI and machine learning automation, particularly in roles traditionally filled by young employees, reminiscent of data entry, could reduce job availability.