For generations, the first job has stood as a universal rite of passage. It is more than a paycheck—it is the space where young people learn discipline, sharpen practical skills, build professional confidence, and begin the long climb up the career ladder. It is where classroom theory first meets the demands of real-world practice. These formative experiences—whether as a junior analyst in a firm, a paralegal in a law office, or an assistant in a creative agency—once created a bridge between education and lifelong careers.

But today, that bridge is crumbling. Artificial Intelligence, designed to enhance productivity, is increasingly being used as a substitute for the very entry-level work that traditionally welcomed young workers into the professional world. Instead of providing a springboard, AI is closing doors before the next generation can even knock. And the consequences are not just economic—they cut to the heart of generational equity and fairness.

The Disappearing First Rung

The “first rung” of the career ladder has always been fragile but essential. Junior analysts prepared research reports. Interns proofread documents. Paralegals drafted legal briefs. Assistants created first-pass designs and conducted background research. These tasks were never glamorous, but they were foundational. They taught discipline, attention to detail, and professional rigor.

Now, AI systems can perform these same functions with breathtaking speed and cost-efficiency. A tool can design a logo in seconds, draft a legal argument overnight, or assemble a financial report in minutes. What once provided thousands of young professionals with essential on-the-job learning has been delegated to algorithms.

The result? The first rung is disappearing. Without it, the ladder itself is in jeopardy. Careers cannot begin if they have no beginning.

The Human Impact

For Gen Z and the generations to follow, the impact is already visible. Young job seekers report that the very roles once designed for beginners now demand years of experience—experience that is increasingly impossible to acquire:

• “Every job application asks for experience I can’t get—because AI already does the entry-level work.”

• “Internships are disappearing. AI has replaced the work we used to do.”

This is not an abstract fear; it is a lived reality. Students graduate into a workforce where the traditional stepping-stones have been pulled away. For many, the prospect of “breaking in” feels more daunting than ever. Without early exposure, mentorship, and hands-on practice, they risk being locked out of entire professions.

And the stakes extend beyond individual disappointment. A society that denies young people a fair start undermines not just their future, but its own resilience and prosperity.

Who Bears Responsibility?

The disappearance of first jobs is not inevitable—it is the result of choices. Choices about how organizations deploy AI, about what governments regulate or ignore, and about how education systems prepare (or fail to prepare) their students.

• Governments must recognize the urgency of this challenge. They can subsidize apprenticeships, incentivize entry-level hiring, and legislate for fair pathways that ensure young workers are not permanently excluded from opportunity.

• Employers face a moral and strategic choice. Replacing new hires with AI may cut costs today, but it sacrifices the pipeline of tomorrow’s leaders, managers, and innovators. Investing in mentorship and training is not a luxury—it is a necessity for long-term competitiveness.

• Educational institutions must prepare students not just for a single career trajectory, but for a lifetime of transitions. In a world where AI will reshape work again and again, adaptability and continuous learning must be at the core of education.

Conclusion & Call-to-Action

AI has the power to transform society—but it must not become an excuse to lock young people out of the future. We cannot allow technology to erase opportunity, deny a generation its first chance, and deepen the divide between those who have access and those who do not.

A just and sustainable future demands that we protect the first job, preserve intergenerational fairness, and ensure that doors remain open for those stepping into the world of work for the very first time.

👉Join us in demanding policies and practices that protect opportunity for all. Sign the Open Letter now: thecrl.org/ai-open-letter