Young people in the UK are increasingly dodging traditional entry-level careers, particularly in areas involving routine tasks like administration, customer service, content creation, and basic data analysis, because they fear AI will make those jobs obsolete.
This is according to a new British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) report, which shows that 20% of NEET (not in education, employment or training) young people have already changed their minds about the career they want due to AI’s potential impact.
That rises to 24% among non-NEET youth. Even more telling, 24% of NEET young people and 27% of those who are employed or in training have actively avoided applying for jobs or courses because they believe AI might replace them.
Concerns are justified
The data shows that the concerns are somewhat justified and that some entry-level opportunities are already shrinking fast.
Job platform Adzuna’s data, cited in the report, shows advertised entry-level roles fell 24.7% year-on-year as of December 2025, hitting the lowest level since February 2021.
While not entirely caused by AI, many firms are now viewing AI as a cheaper alternative for tasks that once went to juniors. “AI is, in some instances, being used to replace entry-level talent in the job market,” the report states.
This is creating a broken talent pipeline. Fewer starters today means gaps higher up the ladder tomorrow as senior staff retire or move on.
Meanwhile, AI is exploding across British businesses. The BCC survey shows adoption among SMEs has rocketed to 54% in 2026, up from 35% in 2025 and just 25% in 2024.
Most are still on generic tools such as ChatGPT, Copilot or Gemini for drafting emails, summarising reports or quick research. Only around 10% have moved to bespoke, integrated systems that automate bigger chunks of workflow.
One silver lining is that broader effects on headcount are limited. Over 95% of firms using only generic AI report no change in staffing over the past year.
BCC data shows 67% of employers report gaps in their workforce, and the report warns the situation will worsen if entry-level pipelines dry up. Young people are surrounded by AI in daily life but often lack formal training on how to use it productively at work, a mismatch that leaves both sides struggling.
“We must ensure that the use and adoption of AI is to the advantage of both society and the economy. We need to ensure we don’t hollow out our future by not investing in our people, at all levels of the organisation now,” said Michael Herron, Head of Atos UK&I.
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