Entry-level job openings in the UK have dropped nearly a third since the launch of ChatGPT, raising alarms over AI-driven disruption and economic vulnerability for early-career workers.
At a Glance
- Entry-level job vacancies—including graduate roles, internships, and apprenticeships—have plunged by approximately 32% since November 2022.
- These positions now account for just 25% of all UK job listings, compared to nearly 29% three years ago.
- The steepest declines are in retail (78.2%), logistics, administrative support, IT, and finance.
- Employers cite rising costs, such as increased national insurance and wage pressure, along with automation, as major deterrents.
- Despite this drop, overall job vacancies rose modestly in May, and average advertised salaries climbed by 9.4% year‑on‑year.
AI’s Disruption of Entry-Level Opportunities
According to The Times, data from job site Adzuna show that entry-level roles have plummeted since ChatGPT went public. These positions made up nearly 29% of the UK job market pre-AI boom but now hover around 25%. Particularly hard-hit is the retail sector, which has seen a staggering 78.2% decline. The trend extends into logistics, administrative support, finance, and IT.
Major employers are actively embracing automation. BT plans to replace over 10,000 workers with AI by 2030, and Anthropic’s CEO recently warned that entry-level white-collar roles could be halved within five years.
Watch a report: Entry-Level Jobs Plummet Since ChatGPT Launch
Cost Pressures Fuel Hiring Pullback
Employers aren’t just leaning on automation. Rising labor costs are deterring junior hiring. BM Magazine notes that higher national insurance contributions, an increased minimum wage, and obligations under the Employment Rights Bill are all cited by employers as reasons to scale back hiring for inexperienced candidates.
This “cost stack” hits labor-intensive industries especially hard—leading to a decline in job training opportunities and first-time employment even as companies record solid profits.
Graduates Facing Grim Landscape
For recent graduates, the picture is bleak. According to The Guardian, the number of available graduate roles has dropped by 33% year-over-year. Internships are down 11%, and underemployment among graduates now stands at 41%.
Many grads report ending up in roles below their qualification level or outside their field of study. Experts warn that AI is hollowing out traditional on-ramps to employment—particularly in fields like programming, law, and financial analysis—where foundational tasks are now automated.
Broader Economic Ramifications
While AI boosts efficiency, it destabilizes a critical rung on the economic ladder. Without dedicated retraining pathways, The Guardian’s tech desk warns that growing automation could exacerbate income inequality and undermine social mobility.
Policy experts are calling for national investment in skills-based certifications, vocational programs, and AI-adjacent careers, but action remains slow. If these trends persist, a generation of talent risks being locked out of the job market.
The UK job market may be evolving—but for young professionals trying to start careers, it’s also rapidly vanishing.
