Early evidence from the United States suggests artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the job market for young workers, with entry-level roles in software engineering, customer service, and marketing already showing signs of decline. A Stanford University study, Canaries in the Coal Mine? Six Facts about the Recent Employment Effects of Artificial Intelligence, found that employees aged 22 to 25 are increasingly being displaced from AI-vulnerable positions and turning instead to fields like nursing, retail, and industrial labour.
The report provides “early, large-scale evidence” that the AI revolution is beginning to have a disproportionate impact on younger workers in the American labour market. But experts say it is too soon to draw similar conclusions for Europe.
According to labour market specialists at the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP), Europe still faces a chronic shortage in vocational jobs such as construction and manufacturing, a trend that long predates the rise of AI.
“Cognitive skills, the ability to process social context — these remain human advantages,” said Adam Tsakalidis, a skills intelligence expert at CEDEFOP. His analysis of online job vacancies across the EU shows employers increasingly demand AI skills not only for roles like AI engineering but also for professions at risk of automation, such as writing and translation. Companies, he noted, are searching for “focused experts” who can offer value beyond what machines deliver.
CEDEFOP’s long-term forecasts still predict rising demand for digital roles through 2035, even as automation advances. Employers are also seeking a balance of technical and human capabilities. “Problem-solving, teamwork and communication will remain critical alongside AI competencies,” said CEDEFOP labour market expert Konstantinos Pouliakas.
Yet uncertainty remains. Some professions could become fully automated by the next decade, though which ones are hardest to predict. Ulrich Zierahn-Weilage, associate professor of economics at Utrecht University, said history shows highly skilled workers tend to adapt successfully to technological disruption. “You still need the human that has critical thinking, while the machine helps you get the dirty work done more quickly,” he explained.
A separate CEDEFOP survey this year revealed that four in ten EU workers believe they need AI-related training, but only 15 percent have pursued it. Employers, meanwhile, highlight effective use of AI tools, critical thinking, and cybersecurity as top future skills, according to a Bosch study spanning seven countries.
Efforts to close this gap vary across Europe. Spain has launched a national AI agency, while Poland has partnered with Google to provide vocational AI training in cybersecurity and energy. CEDEFOP expert Anastasia Pouliou said more flexible, industry-specific training courses will be essential. “Never stop learning,” she advised. “With AI, you need to be aware, be informed, and keep on being trained.”
