Recent college grads say AI is making it harder to get a job. Is it? : NPR

Key Points:

• Recent college graduates like Irene Chang and Jacqueline Kline face significant challenges securing entry-level jobs despite extensive applications and efforts, with some attributing difficulties to AI's impact on the job market.
• Economist Erik Brynjolfsson notes a 16% employment decline among early-career workers in AI-exposed fields since late 2022, suggesting AI's role in reducing demand for entry-level positions that rely on codified knowledge.
• Harvard economist David Deming argues that the decline in junior hiring predates AI tools like ChatGPT and attributes challenges more to the rise of remote work, which complicates training and onboarding of entry-level employees.
• Data from a study by Ramp and Revelio Labs shows firms heavily investing in AI have actually increased entry-level hiring by 12%, indicating AI adoption does not necessarily reduce junior roles.
• Economists agree that AI will bring significant economic shifts and job market changes, but remain optimistic about its long-term benefits, advising recent graduates to remain resilient amid the evolving employment landscape.