How AI Could Change Young Workers’ Job Prospects

AI may affect the routine jobs where many young people begin their careers. The IMF and World Bank Jobs Council say support for entering work needs attention.

MoneyOctober 13, 20263 min readHow Sureno writes this

The short version

AI could affect young workers by changing or removing routine entry-level jobs that have traditionally helped people begin careers, IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva warned ¹.
Georgieva said young people entering the job market are especially exposed, but the sources do not give estimates of how many jobs may be affected ¹².
World Bank Jobs Council co-chair Tharman Shanmugaratnam urged governments to treat some crisis-era employment measures as lasting policy, including working with firms to encourage hiring new graduates ¹.
The sources describe warnings and proposals, not a detailed or agreed program of support for young workers ¹².

How could AI affect young workers’ jobs?

AI may take on tasks in routine, repetitive jobs that have often given people their first step into working life. Georgieva warned that young people entering the job market could be among those most exposed to this change ¹.

Her concern is not only whether a first job disappears. It is also whether young workers lose a place to build experience and move toward more advanced roles. The sources do not establish how widespread this effect will be, or which jobs and countries will see it most.

Why are entry-level jobs important?

A first job can provide workplace experience and a route to more responsibility. Georgieva described a familiar path in which young people start with routine work and gradually progress ¹. If fewer such roles are available, it could become harder to get that initial foothold.

That is a concern raised by the IMF chief, not proof that the career ladder will disappear. The supplied reporting does not quantify how many young people might be affected or show what will happen in particular industries.

What support are officials proposing?

Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Singapore’s president and co-chair of the World Bank’s Jobs Council, called for governments to make some measures used during crises a regular part of employment policy ¹. He also pointed to working with businesses and encouraging them to hire recent graduates ¹.

The reporting does not set out a complete plan, specify which incentives should be used, or say how much they would cost. It presents a direction for policy discussion rather than a detailed program.

What does “crisis-era” employment support mean?

In this discussion, it means support measures associated with earlier emergencies being considered for use beyond a crisis. Shanmugaratnam argued that such measures should be viewed as part of the continuing set of policies governments can use to help young people get into work ¹.

The source does not list a standard package or say that governments have adopted this approach. It reports a recommendation to consider making support more lasting.

What should young workers take from these warnings?

The warnings show that international officials are concerned about how AI may affect career entry, especially when technology changes routine work ¹². They do not establish that a particular person’s job or career is at risk.

For now, the clearest practical point in the reporting is that governments and employers are being urged to consider how young people can access jobs and gain a start in working life. The sources do not offer individual career guidance or identify which skills will be most valuable.

What we don't know yet

How many entry-level jobs AI will change or eliminate, and in which countries and industries.
Whether the concerns raised will lead to specific government programs or employer incentives.
What kinds of new jobs may emerge, and whether they will provide comparable routes for young people to gain experience.

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Questions people ask

Will AI take jobs away from young people?

The IMF chief warned that young people entering the job market could be especially exposed as AI changes routine work ¹. The sources do not predict how many jobs will be lost or say that all young workers will be affected.

Why does the IMF say young workers are at risk from AI?

Georgieva said young people often begin in routine, repetitive jobs and then progress to other roles. She warned that if those starting jobs shrink, it may be harder to get onto a career path ¹.

What did the World Bank Jobs Council recommend?

Council co-chair Tharman Shanmugaratnam urged governments to consider making some crisis-era employment measures a lasting part of policy. He also called for working with businesses and encouraging them to hire fresh graduates ¹.

Could AI make it harder for graduates to find their first job?

That is a concern raised by the IMF chief, who said young people entering the labor market are particularly exposed to AI-related changes ¹. The available sources do not provide graduate employment forecasts or data on how many first jobs could be affected.

Has the government support plan been decided?

The reporting describes a recommendation, not an agreed plan. It does not give a full list of measures or say which governments will adopt them ¹.

Sources

World Bank jobs council urges 'crisis-era' employment support measures as IMF warns of AI ‘tsunami’ — CNBC, 2026-10-12
AI is keeping the economy afloat. The IMF says young workers could pay the price. — Business Insider, 2026-10-13