How AI is reshaping the job market
worldwide
By 2030, it’s projected that AI will replace 800 million jobs. Junior and repetitive task roles are on the verge of extinction.
In late 2022, AI was everywhere, turning industries on their heads practically overnight. Tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney weren’t just fancy tech demo — they were a tidal wave. Within months, they reshaped entire job markets, especially in freelancing and entry-level positions.
By mid-2023, the numbers were hard to ignore. Freelance roles vulnerable to automation — jobs that didn’t need much human oversight — dropped 21% in just eight months. Graphic design? Down 17%, thanks to AI image generators like Midjourney and Stable Diffusion. Customer support? Well, Duukan’s CEO didn’t hold back. Last year, he announced that 90% of his customer support team had been replaced by a chatbot. The result? Costs slashed by 85%, and response times went from 1 minute 44 seconds to instant.
And this isn’t just an isolated thing. ChatGPT can perform thousands of tasks from over a thousand workplaces. AI’s disruptive streak is global. By 2030, it’s projected to replace 800 million jobs.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. For those who’ve leaned in, AI has been a productivity rocket. Consultants using ChatGPT, for example, finish tasks 25% faster, with quality that’s 40% better.
Still, there’s an elephant in the room: junior roles are getting wiped out. Take law, for example. Tasks like document review and basic research, once the bread and butter of junior lawyers, are now handled by AI. And it’s not just law. Across industries, the early rungs of the career ladder are disappearing.
The data is brutal:
Market research analysts: 53%
Graphic designers: 50%.
Marketing manager: 9%
Sales representatives: 67%.
Sales manager: 21%
Art director: 24%.
What’s worse is what comes next. Without entry-level roles, there’s no mentorship, no hands-on learning. You can’t just leap into senior management without building those foundational skills. We’ve seen it already in robotic surgery. Robotics professor, Matt Beane described in his book, that trainees went from actively assisting to passively observing. And passive observation doesn’t build expertise.
If this trend keeps going, the future workforce might find itself unprepared for the complexity of tomorrow’s industries.
AI’s rise is exhilarating and terrifying. Yes, it’s unlocking incredible potential, but it’s also creating urgent questions: Who will train the next generation? How do we balance efficiency with humanity?
The answers to these questions won’t just define careers — they’ll define society.
The publishing industry has been getting ravaged for a decade or two because of Amazon and all the self-publishing platforms, and the consequence is that publishers have been letting go of SENIOR editors while forcing ENTRY-LEVEL editors (as well as authors) to take on more work.
I half-assumed the same dynamic would show up with AI-based disruption in the tech industry: that tech companies would get rid of their highly paid senior developers in favor of a small handful of low-salary entry-level developers empowered by AI tools like Cursor.
Turns out I was wrong and the opposite is happening: More seniors, fewer juniors. Wonder if we'll eventually see fewer kids going for computer science degrees?
you are not completely wrong. in india companies are laying off senior employees and want junior employees to work more with fewer salary. But this is happening in non-tech companies like banking. Maybe capitalism is to blame
There was a crazy story I saw on reddit the other day about how all of the TV producers (save one manager) for one local station were automated away. The station is part of a network of hundreds of similar stations across the US, but this station was one of the first to start layoffs.
I think we are seeing the "test cases" start to happen, but the larger wave is on its way...
Is this most craziest time in recent history?
As a product manager, I feel I have to adapt by being able to not only complete my work faster and higher quality but also start coding and designing.
This seems to be a very serious situation across the globe, which is going to be a threat to all.
I believe the democratization of AI software creation will help address these challenges. We're not there yet, but once anyone can build scalable businesses using AI and implement custom automations to operate them, opportunity in this new age will be within everyone's reach. Great post.
As someone working with AI technologies, I see both sides of this transformation. The 800M jobs figure is striking, but I think we're missing a crucial point: AI is creating new types of roles too. Just like how the industrial revolution didn't eliminate human work but transformed it, AI is reshaping rather than purely replacing.
What concerns me most from your article is the mentorship gap. You raised an excellent point about surgical training - we can't learn complex skills through passive observation alone. This is a critical issue that isn't discussed enough in AI adoption conversations.
Perhaps the solution lies in deliberately designing AI systems that enhance learning rather than replace it entirely? AI could provide real-time feedback while still keeping humans in the loop for critical decisions and skill development.
The challenge for us in the tech community is to create AI tools that elevate human capabilities rather than simply automate them away. We need to focus on the uniquely human aspects of work - creativity, emotional intelligence, and complex problem-solving - while letting AI handle the repetitive tasks.
What are your thoughts on creating AI systems that specifically preserve and enhance learning opportunities for newcomers in various fields?
The real question to me -- will we see new jobs being created at the same rate at which they are being automated away with advancements in AI?
Are there new career paths for people who would normally take JR level roles in traditional career paths?
If I view it as an opportunity, maybe now it's a great chance to start a business that teaches junior role to senior role. It's just like other educational platform, but it came with things like digital twins as a much down-to-earth playground for the junior roles.
The rise of AI is a powerful force, but we need to ensure it's used ethically and responsibly to benefit all. The impact on job markets is a serious concern that needs to be addressed.
The numbers are astonishing. It's tough for new job applicants without experience such as students. And yes freelancers are also affected.
I’m 21 years old and currently a senior majoring in Translation. When it comes to translation tasks, I often turn to AI because it does a better job than I do. During my internship search, I noticed that many companies are AI startups, and interviewers seemed more impressed when I mentioned my proficiency in using AI tools. At work, I rely heavily on AI to get tasks done. I’ve realized that AI has become an indispensable part of both my personal and professional life.
Anyone that does contract or freelance work is living the Ai issues... We are all trying to learn how to use it and to be able to adjust with the new ways. To me it is all moving very quickly and the jobs are just getting cheaper and faster. People have to make a living to be able to train, learn and to make mistakes. It feels like we are drowning but also trying to learn to swim at the same time.
AI is revolutionizing the workforce by automating repetitive tasks, creating new job opportunities in AI development, data analysis, and ethical governance, and requiring workers to upskill to stay relevant. While some industries face job displacement, others experience growth.
OK
I agree. It seems like entry-level roles are getting obliterated. This will be a serious problem in training the future generation and getting them ready for the challenging job market.