ILO warns AI adoption is narrowing entry-level job opportunities for young workers

GENEVA — The International Labour Organization has warned that the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence is making it harder for young people to access their first jobs, as weakening global growth, tighter hiring policies and rising geopolitical tensions combine to squeeze employment opportunities for youth. The Geneva-based agency said positions that have historically served as an entry point for young workers, including commercial and administrative roles, sales, services and some production and technical jobs, are undergoing deep changes because of automation and generative AI. It added that demand is rising for skills such as digital literacy, the ability to review AI outputs and the capacity to identify when human intervention is needed, while roles requiring deep expertise in natural sciences, engineering, healthcare and information and communication technologies remain relatively resilient to automation. According to ILO data, the global youth unemployment rate for those aged 15 to 24 rose to 12.4% in 2025, up from 12.3% in 2023, with around 67 million young people on the margins of the labor market worldwide. The largest increases were recorded in North Africa and Europe, where the youth unemployment rate reached 15%. The organization called on governments and the private sector to step up investment in quality education, vocational training, lifelong learning and apprenticeship programs.