Artificial intelligence is narrowing job opportunities for young people: Here are the most affected professions

Ifo Institute research found that full-time employment among 20- to 24-year-olds in AI-exposed occupations has fallen 14% since 2022, with data entry, software, accounting and journalism among the hardest-hit fields while physical-labor roles remain less exposed. The Munich-based institute cautioned that AI is not the sole driver of the decline, though it singled out young career starters as the group most affected by automation. The findings matter because they suggest the first rung of the career ladder is narrowing precisely where generative tools are being adopted fastest, adding to concerns about youth unemployment and the pipeline of entry-level talent. Watch for follow-up research isolating AI's contribution from cyclical hiring weakness, and for how firms redesign junior roles around automation.