Are we witnessing the end of entry-level jobs as we know them? In this episode of In The Loop, I’m tuning in from a shed on the coast of Scotland—yes, seriously—to dig into one of the most urgent and overlooked consequences of AI: its impact on early career opportunities. 

Based on fresh insights from SignalFire’s State of Tech Talent Report 2025, World Economic Forum, and LinkedIn data, I explore how AI and automation are rapidly dismantling traditional junior roles and what this means for economic mobility, education, and the next generation of talent.

I’ll unpack the widening disconnect between digital labor and human development, the rise of experience paradoxes, and whether employers have a structural responsibility to train and invest in new talent. If you're a graduate, a hiring manager, or simply concerned about the future of work, this is one episode you can’t afford to miss.

⏩ Episode Highlights

(00:15) - The State of Talent Report 2025: the urgent questions raised by tracking 650 million professionals’ career prospects.

(02:15) - The data: a 50% drop in junior hiring and the “experience paradox”—is AI creating a Lost Generation?

(06:00) - The societal impact: rethinking education in a world with fewer traditional pathways—and the moralities. 

(08:00) - Commercial responsibilities: global apprenticeship models that might offer solutions.

(11:25) - The call to action: Why 2025 might be the inflection point we can’t ignore.

🔗 Links & Resources

📊 SignalFire’s State of Tech Talent Report 2025

📖 Read the written version of this episode on the Mindset AI blog (with all relevant links and resources). Read here.

If you enjoyed this episode, rate, follow, and share! It helps others stay ahead of the latest AI trends. 🚀