AI threatens entry-level jobs for young workers, Microsoft Sweden warns

Entry-level positions for young workers are at risk of disappearing as artificial intelligence takes over junior office tasks, Microsoft Sweden’s CEO Sophia Wikander told public broadcaster SVT on Sunday.

Wikander called for expanded internship programs and stronger vocational training to prevent younger workers from being shut out of the labor market. “What are we doing to educate and ensure that those around 20 today have the right opportunities when entry-level jobs may vanish?” she asked in an interview with Alex möter.

Recent data from Goldman Sachs Research shows a decline in jobs where AI can fully replace human labor—particularly in roles like customer service—since the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022. Meanwhile, positions where AI augments human work have seen stable or growing employment, with senior staff becoming more productive as demand for junior roles shrinks.

Swedish research from Örebro University supports the trend, indicating younger workers face increasing difficulty securing jobs in AI-exposed sectors, while older employees see slight employment gains.

Wikander highlighted coding, law, and finance as industries already experiencing rapid AI adoption. With Sweden’s general election approaching, she urged policymakers, private companies, and public institutions to prioritize upskilling programs and practical training to bridge the gap for new labor market entrants.

“Academic education must place greater emphasis on internships,” she said, “so students can adapt to tomorrow’s workplaces.”