AI reduces junior job offers in Switzerland by 30%

What happened?

A Swiss study analyzing 7.3 million job offers published between 2019 and 2025 reveals that ads targeting career starters fell by 30% in 2025 compared to the 2019-2023 average. The research, covered by The Next Web, directly attributes this decline to the adoption of generative artificial intelligence, which allows companies to automate tasks previously performed by junior workers. The study, conducted by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) and the University of Zurich, breaks down the data by sector: the largest reductions were seen in administrative positions (-40%), customer service (-35%), and basic data analysis (-32%), while technical roles such as junior programming suffered a 25% drop. In contrast, senior and managerial jobs showed little significant change.

Why is this important?

This trend not only affects Switzerland but could be replicated in other developed economies. Junior positions have traditionally been the gateway to the labor market for recent graduates and people without experience. If AI eliminates these roles, it becomes harder to accumulate practical experience, which could create a skills gap and increase youth unemployment. The International Labour Organization (ILO) already warned in 2024 that generative AI could displace up to 25% of entry-level jobs in OECD countries by 2030. Additionally, the Swiss study points out that companies that have reduced junior offers the most are those with higher investment in AI, such as those in the financial and technology sectors. This creates a vicious cycle: without prior experience, young people cannot access junior positions, and without those positions, they do not acquire the skills demanded by the market.

What consequences will it have?

The consequences are multiple: companies could save costs in the short term, but in the long term they will face a shortage of experienced senior talent. Young people will need to acquire skills complementary to AI, such as critical thinking, creativity, and team management. Education systems must adapt to train in competencies that AI cannot easily replicate. For example, McKinsey's 2023 report on the future of work already forecasted that demand for higher socio-emotional and cognitive skills would increase by 26% by 2030. Furthermore, the reduction of junior positions could exacerbate inequality: young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, who rely more on these jobs to start, would be the most affected. A 2024 World Bank study showed that automation of routine tasks had already increased the wage gap between skilled and unskilled workers by 15% in countries like Germany and the United States.

What should readers know?

Automation of junior jobs is not new: during the Industrial Revolution, apprentices were replaced by machines; in the 1990s, computerization eliminated secretarial and basic accounting positions. But generative AI accelerates the process and affects cognitive tasks, not just manual ones. Workers should focus on unique human skills and learning to collaborate with AI. Public policies should consider retraining programs and support for affected youth. For example, Singapore has already launched a subsidy program for companies to hire apprentices in roles that integrate AI, while the European Union proposes a just transition fund for workers displaced by automation. On an individual level, young people can seek certifications in areas like AI ethics, prompt engineering, or project management, where demand is growing. In summary, the Swiss study is a wake-up call: the labor market is changing, and adaptation must be swift and coordinated among businesses, governments, and individuals.