Fresh Graduates Face Grim Prospects as AI Makes Job Hunting Increasingly Difficult

The increasing adoption of AI is making it more difficult for humans to find employment. Fresh graduates, in particular, are finding it increasingly challenging to secure jobs.

This phenomenon is widely observed in Switzerland, where massive AI adoption has led numerous companies to offer fewer junior positions to recent university graduates. This trend was identified in a study conducted by the Swiss job portal, jobsch, which analysed 7.3 million job advertisements and surveyed over 3,600 workers.

According to a report cited by Reuters, the proportion of entry-level job vacancies advertised in Switzerland in 2025 is 32% lower than during the 2019-2022 period, which was the pre-AI phase. The sectors most impacted by massive AI adoption include marketing, administration, finance, and IT.

AI skills are also increasingly sought after in roles outside of purely technological fields. While offers for senior positions in roles exposed to AI increased by 26% in 2025, there was a corresponding decline in junior-level roles. However, junior positions remain in demand in sectors such as healthcare, construction, and trade due to ongoing labour shortages.

This phenomenon has clearly caused significant anxiety among young people. The survey revealed that 41% of participants under the age of 25 expressed fear regarding their future. They are concerned about losing their value in the workplace due to AI, a phenomenon known as ‘AI FOBO’—the Fear of Becoming Obsolete.