Mir: Artificial intelligence destroys career elevators for young professionals

The development of generative artificial intelligence is beginning to have a profound and systemic impact not only on individual professions, but also on the structure of the labor market itself. Routine automation is being replaced by a new phenomenon-generative-gap: a shift in career dynamics, in which the traditional entry level in the profession disappears. It is becoming increasingly difficult for young professionals to find entry points into the industry, while experienced professionals gain access to new technological levers of growth.

For decades, junior employees have started their careers by performing simple tasks: preparing drafts, collecting analytics, and working with basic presentations. These tasks not only freed up time for senior colleagues, but also served as an environment for learning professional skills. With the advent of generative models such as GPT and Midjourney, these tasks have become faster, cheaper,and scalable. As a result, entry-level positions are reduced, and entry into the job market is shifted to a level where practical experience and skills in working with AI are already required.

According to industry data, in 2024, demand for entry-level specialists declined by 26 percent in IT, 23 percent in design, and 14 percent in analytics. These are the areas where generative AI is most actively implemented in processes.

Artificial intelligence is becoming a productivity tool for established professionals. They have the competencies necessary for critical perception of results, correct interpretation, and effective integration of AI into business processes. Routine tasks that previously served as a sandbox for beginners are now performed automatically. The acceleration of the production cycle is at the expense of the mechanisms of professional maturation.

The problem is exacerbated by the overload of seniors: they do not have time for mentoring, and they are focused on extracting current value from AI tools. Experts estimate that more than 300 million workers worldwide will face the need for retraining in the coming years. Moreover, the requirements for the entry point have increased dramatically: candidates are expected to have industry knowledge, industrial engineering skills, and the ability to manage digital tools independently.

Careers in high-tech industries are becoming increasingly elite. Companies are looking for versatile professionals who can generate ideas, implement them using AI, and understand business goals. The lack of starting positions leads to a shortage of the personnel reserve. In a few years, there may be a structural break in the market: there will not be enough middle-level specialists, which will increase the burden on existing ones and slow down the flexibility of companies.

The solution requires systemic changes in education and corporate practices. Mastering AI tools should start at school, progressing to integration in university programs and internships. Practice-oriented simulations, project tracks, internships, and corporate accelerators can become a new "simulator" for juniors. Without such an infrastructure, a business will face a situation where internal reproduction of personnel becomes impossible.

Graduates of recent years who have not had time to adapt to the changed requirements are particularly vulnerable. Proactivity is critical for them: participation in short-term educational intensive courses, applied courses, and corporate educational tracks becomes a necessity.

If the market does not build a new recruitment mechanism, this will lead to long-term problems: a lack of qualified specialists, an increase in the cost of retaining senior employees, and a decrease in the innovation potential of organizations.