AI skills can make young workers more attractive than experienced ones, professor says

Young workers who effectively use artificial intelligence may be more appealing to employers than experienced colleagues who lack those skills, according to Mika Ruokonen, an industrial professor at LUT University.

Ruokonen, who studies AI from the perspective of corporate leadership and strategy, told Yle that AI can help bridge the experience gap between junior and senior employees. He warned companies against trying to “pick the raisins from the cake” by relying on others to train talent, noting that the best workers tend to stay loyal to the employer that gave them their first opportunity.

Recruitment practices may tighten, with firms hiring fewer juniors but expecting them to leverage AI and deliver productive work faster, Ruokonen predicted. He stressed that responsible companies will continue investing in young talent to secure a pipeline of future senior staff.

At software company Visma, recruitment specialist Emma Lehelä has observed a flood of applications from young jobseekers. She said the ability to update skills in line with a changing labour market sets candidates apart, whether they are new or existing employees.

Leevi Laitala, a LUT University computer science student, spent a year applying for jobs before securing a summer internship at Visma. He noted fierce competition for the few available positions.

Once hired, AI has shifted the nature of entry-level work. Vilppu Paananen, who has worked at Visma for eight years, said juniors now move from routine tasks to more demanding roles much faster thanks to AI. The technology has also introduced more time for discussion among colleagues, as AI handles coding tasks while humans review and collaborate.

Paananen expects the software industry to place greater emphasis on soft skills, such as communication and understanding client needs, rather than immediate coding.