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Recent headlines warn that artificial intelligence (AI) is wiping out entry-level roles. The reality is more subtle and arguably more troubling for young graduates.

According to a new PwC analysis of more than 1 billion job postings, entry-level jobs haven’t disappeared – they’ve been “seniorised”. In occupations highly exposed to AI, entry-level roles are likely to require skills that have historically appeared later in a career: strategic decision-making, stakeholder management, leadership and judgment. That’s a great deal to ask of a 22-year-old fresh out of college, unless the candidate has extensive internship experience and strong mentorship throughout the four-year higher education journey.

The numbers are stark. In 2022, there were more than 80,000 jobs suitable for fresh graduates in Hong Kong. In just a few short years, the number has gone down by 61 per cent to 31,000 in 2025, and I would not be surprised to see this number go even lower.

The implication is clear. Organisations still need fresh talent; they just want fresh talent that thinks like a 15-year veteran. They want maturity, professional intuition and the ability to navigate ambiguity, traits that used to be developed across a decade of on-the-job learning.

This trend is not driven by employer cynicism. As AI automates routine tasks, employers are placing a greater premium on uniquely human capabilities. They are asking early-career workers to contribute those skills sooner than in the past. The bar has been raised, and the infrastructure to help graduates clear it hasn’t kept pace.