A new report covered in The New York Times delivered a startling forecast: over the next five years, 9 million jobs are expected to be displaced by AI and emerging technologies – and a disproportionate amount of new college graduates will be directly affected.
As a parent, that should feel unsettling—especially if your student is in college or about to graduate. You’ve worked hard to support their education. So what kind of future are they stepping into?
Here’s the bigger picture:
While many jobs are disappearing, the real challenge isn’t simply a lack of jobs – it’s a shift in the type of jobs available, and the skills those jobs demand.
Jobs Likely to Disappear:
The roles most at risk involve functional tasks that are easily automated, including many entry-level, traditional ‘starting point’ white collar positions such as:
- analytical, clerical and administrative roles
- accounting and finance positions
- sales, marketing and customer support
- software, design and lab-based STEM professions
Jobs on the Rise:
At the same time, we’re seeing rapid growth in areas like:
- Cybersecurity and information technology
- Skilled trades and infrastructure roles
- Logistics and delivery services (manual)
- Human-centered work that requires leadership, empathy, and creativity (ie: social work and healthcare – HCP/HCW – jobs)
What This Means for Students:
Importantly, this isn’t about having the “perfect major” or chasing the next tech trend. These trends merely highlight the importance of individual differentiation, career focus and skill-building to develop the strongest networks and opportunity landscape. The students who thrive will be those who:
- Stay adaptable to market changes and career opportunities
- Learn how to market their differentiation and strengths while directly addressing the AI implications for their chosen initial career path
- Develop skills that AI can’t replicate, like communication, collaboration, and problem-solving
- Know how to tell their story and navigate a shifting landscape with confidence
At LaunchPath, we work 1:1 with college students and recent grads to build the pathway, the clarity, confidence and skills they need to enter this new world of transition into career – prepared and empowered. If you’re wondering how to support your Student as they step into a fast-changing job market, we can help.
Attribute:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/technology/ai-jobs-college-graduates.html