8 in 10 Companies Plan to Layoff Recent College Graduates This Year Due To AI

Intelligent.com has published a recent survey report examining the impact of AI on young workers. The report also shares insight into the current availability of internship and entry-level job opportunities. In total, 804 hiring managers in the United States completed the survey.

Based on the survey, 78 percent of hiring managers anticipate that AI will lead to layoffs of recent college graduates at their company within the next year. Among this group, 23 percent say less than 3 percent will be let go. Additionally, 27 percent anticipate layoffs ranging from 5 to 10 percent, while 11 percent estimate between 15 and 30 percent. Eleven percent predict 30 to 60 percent will be laid off, and 6 percent report that 70 percent or more of recent graduates may lose their jobs.

“Many recent graduates are hired to fill entry-level roles that involve information-related tasks such as research, data entry, customer service, and general office assistance,” says Chief Education and Career Development Advisor, Huy Nguyen. “While these entry-level positions provide people entering the workforce for the first time with crucial experience, they are also the ones that are most easily replaced by artificial intelligence.”

Survey results also indicate that since ChatGPT launched in November 2022, 84 percent of companies report offering more internship opportunities. Eleven percent state that they offer neither more nor fewer, and 4 percent claim to offer fewer internships. Similarly, 70 percent of respondents say they have offered more job opportunities since November 2022. Twenty-two percent report offering neither more nor fewer, and 7 percent admit to offering fewer jobs to recent graduates.

“While the total number of job opportunities and internships may be on the rise, the types of entry-level roles being created are shifting due to the rapid pace of technology advancement, especially through AI and automation,” offers Nguyen.

Seventy percent of hiring managers either “fully” or “somewhat agree” that AI can perform an intern’s job. The primary intern tasks believed to be achievable by AI, according to hiring managers, include email writing, data entry, research, customer support, and generating task lists. In fact, 57 percent express they trust AI “significantly” or “somewhat more” than an intern’s capabilities. Likewise, 69 percent of hiring managers “fully” or “somewhat agree” that AI can perform the job of a recent graduate. Fifty-six percent trust the work of AI “significantly” or “somewhat more” than that of a recent graduate.

All data found within this report derives from a survey commissioned by Intelligent.com. The survey was launched on April 17, 2024, via Pollfish, and 804 U.S. hiring managers were surveyed. Demographic criteria were employed to ensure qualified respondents, including age (25+), household income (>$50,000), organizational role (owner/partner, HR manager, resident/CEO/chairperson, C-Level executive, CFO, CTO, senior management, director), company size (>11), and education (high school, technical college, college, or postgraduate). To view the complete report, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/8-in-10-companies-plan-to-layoff-recent-college-grads-this-year-due-to-ai/.