The increasing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in workplaces around the globe is reshaping the job market for recent graduates, raising concerns among students, educators, and policymakers alike. While some had hoped AI would open new fields and boost productivity, mounting evidence suggests it is rapidly limiting traditional entry-level opportunities for graduates, particularly in white-collar roles, and is sparking a growing debate over the future of work for the next generation (FT.com, WSJ, Business Report).
This story matters for Thai readers given Thailand’s own rising AI adoption combined with record numbers of graduates entering the labor market. Globally, companies are leveraging AI to automate core business processes traditionally filled by entry-level talent. As AI-driven systems become more sophisticated, questions intensify over whether Thailand’s education system and economic planners are preparing graduates for a drastically different future.
Recent research reported by the Financial Times indicates that, contrary to hopes that new technology might create abundant new roles, the actual effect of AI—especially powerful generative tools like ChatGPT and advanced automation software—has been to reduce corporate demand for junior and entry-level staff. A striking example comes from the Chicago-based recruiting firm Hirewell, where requests for entry-level employees from marketing agency clients have “all but stopped” as the work young graduates once performed is replaced by AI “home runs” (MSN).
A Wall Street Journal analysis found that recent graduates accounted for just 7% of new hires in 2024 in some US sectors, compared to 11% in 2022. This dramatic shrinkage aligns with a May 2025 report by a private consulting firm that points to shrinking workplace teams, the automation of entry-level “stepping stone” tasks, and company reengineering as AI systems displace traditional administrative, marketing, and analytical roles. The trend is international: a report from Axios quoted the CEO of an American AI startup warning that AI could eliminate up to half of all entry-level white-collar jobs, potentially driving up unemployment by 10% to 20% (Yahoo).
While alarm over job losses is not new—technological change has long upended old industries—the current AI-driven shift is faster and more pervasive than past digital revolutions. AI now handles not only routine processing, but also tasks involving data synthesis, report generation, simple content creation, and even aspects of customer service or legal review that were previously the exclusive domain of new hires. According to a detailed review by The Washington Post, this wave of change affects “hundreds of professions” and is already rewriting the hiring priorities of companies eager to cut costs and raise efficiency (Washington Post).
Expert opinions are sharply divided on how the AI transition will play out. Some labor market analysts argue that emerging technologies will create different, if not greater, demand for new types of skills—especially those involving the ability to work alongside AI or design, manage, and oversee intelligent systems. However, the pace of change means that for current graduates, workplace doors may close before new pathways are available. In the words of a chief executive of a major technology recruiting company (quoted across major reports), “AI has upended the career ladder as we knew it, raising fundamental questions about the social contract facing new graduates and who is responsible for reskilling and adaptation.”
In Thailand, the entry-level job squeeze is a familiar concern. The National Statistical Office reports that more than 500,000 students graduate annually from Thai universities, entering a labor market already grappling with automation pressures and an oversupply of degree holders for administrative and routine office roles. In recent years, many employers have begun implementing software automation in human resources, finance, logistics, and customer-facing departments. According to a 2024 white paper by a major Thai digital transformation consultancy, as many as 40% of surveyed companies plan to increase AI-based automation in the next two years, especially in Bangkok and major industrial zones (Thailand Business News). The Ministry of Higher Education has meanwhile been urging universities to strengthen programs in data science, critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and digital entrepreneurship to prepare graduates for new, AI-rich economic realities.
Thailand’s higher education leaders, following international trends, increasingly call for a shift from rote learning to “future-proof” skillsets. Research published in an international education journal highlights the growing demand for critical thinking, collaboration, and digital literacy among Thai employers, echoing a global consensus that soft skills—creativity, communication, and adaptive reasoning—are becoming more valuable as routine cognitive tasks are automated (PubMed). One rector of a major Thai university, speaking at a 2024 higher education conference, stressed that “every student must become a lifelong learner, abandoning the old assumption that a single degree will guarantee a smooth career. The AI era demands flexibility and the confidence to keep learning new tools and mindsets.”
Historically, disruptions caused by mechanization and digitalization have tended to create new industries even as they destroyed others. For example, the introduction of spreadsheets in the 1980s eliminated thousands of bookkeeping jobs but laid the groundwork for a broader, more skilled financial analytics sector. However, the scope and speed of the generative AI revolution present unique pressures. Unlike prior waves of automation, which often affected manual or routine jobs first, today’s AI tools are targeting the workstreams that white-collar graduates and even professionals rely upon for career progression, salary growth, and skill development.
Social anxiety is palpable among young people entering a job market in transition. Across Europe, North America, and increasingly in Asia, Generation Z graduates express concern about “invisible” skill requirements, with many worried they are being outcompeted by people (and machines) with better AI fluency. A 2025 UK jobs report cited in City A.M. linked surging youth unemployment directly to AI-driven layoffs in the professional services sector (City A.M.). A similar anxiety is echoed in Thailand, where university career counselors note declining enthusiasm for traditional office jobs and rising interest in entrepreneurship, gig work, and hybrid careers involving digital marketing, creative design, or e-commerce.
Despite short-term turbulence, some experts see long-term benefits if societies adapt quickly. A 2023 international study emphasized the value of “job-proof” skills—such as critical thinking, adaptability, and digital project management—as the key to thriving in an AI-powered world (PubMed, “Critical Thinking: Creating Job-Proof Skills for the Future of Work”). For Thailand, this means not only adjusting university curricula, but also broadening public policy to support expanded digital upskilling, continuous workplace retraining, and more robust mechanisms for career transitions across age groups.
Looking ahead, the impact of AI on graduate employment is likely to accelerate. Companies—large and small—are investing in AI-driven business models, pushing aside layered hierarchies and repetitive roles in favor of leaner, smarter operations. Thai higher education institutions will need to double down on industry partnerships, experiential learning opportunities, and AI ethics education to ensure students are aware not only of the risks but also the opportunities of working in an AI-integrated economy.
For Thai graduates and their families, the immediate challenge is to be proactive. Developing AI literacy, seeking internships in digital-first companies, and participating in online training platforms (such as Coursera, Udemy, or Thai government-backed digital academies) can help bridge the gap between classroom and career. Students should also pay close attention to labor market signals and be open to non-traditional career paths, including freelance work, tech entrepreneurship, or roles in rapidly growing sectors like logistics, fintech, or renewable energy—industries where uniquely human judgment and creativity remain in high demand.
In conclusion, while AI is undoubtedly shrinking traditional graduate job openings, it is also accelerating the transformation of skill requirements and the very structure of work itself. Thai readers—students, educators, employers, and policymakers—must recognize this dual reality and commit to lifelong learning, digital skill acquisition, and flexible thinking to remain resilient in the face of ongoing technological disruption. Staying informed, upskilling early, and collaborating across sectors will be crucial to ensuring Thailand’s graduates can thrive in this new era.
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