Are Entry-Level Jobs Becoming Automated? What Workers Think About AI and the Future of Early Careers

Are Entry-Level Jobs Becoming Automated? What Workers Think About AI and the Future of Early Careers

We recently analysed thousands of online discussions to understand how workers and jobseekers feel about artificial intelligence and the future of entry-level jobs. Our analysis of 2,053 Reddit comments reveals growing concern that AI could reshape traditional career pathways, with early-career roles in software development, transport and engineering seen as the most vulnerable.

The research examines genuine conversations among workers discussing which entry-level roles may be most exposed to automation. By analysing global Reddit threads about AI and employment, we identified the jobs people most frequently believe are at risk and why these perceptions matter for the future workforce.

What workers think AI could change about entry-level careers

Entry-level roles have long been the training ground of the workforce. They are where people gain experience, develop practical skills and begin building their careers. However, the conversations we analysed show increasing concern that AI may alter how these traditional career ladders operate.

Honcho's Chief Operating Officer Miralda Ishkhanian said the findings highlight a shift in how workers view the stability of these early career pathways.

"Entry-level roles have always been the training ground of the workforce, the place where people learn the ropes and build experience. When workers start identifying those jobs as the first to disappear, it signals real uncertainty about how traditional pathways into many industries may be narrowing."

"This doesn't mean these entry-level jobs will vanish overnight. But perception matters. If young people believe entry pathways are shrinking, it could influence what they study, the career they pursue and how businesses build future talent pipelines."

Most at-risk entry-level roles, according to workers and jobseekers on Reddit

From junior developers to truck drivers and administrative staff, the discussions reveal a wide range of occupations that workers believe could be affected by automation. The roles below are ranked in descending order based on how frequently they were mentioned in the analysed conversations.

The top-ranked role was software development, with around 21% of commenters suggesting junior developers could be particularly exposed to automation.

While many concerns focused on office-based roles, the conversations also highlighted anxiety about automation across supply chains and transport. About five percent of discussions referenced goods and transport roles such as truck driving.

Ishkhanian said the comments suggest people are not only worried about jobs disappearing, but also about how workers will gain experience in the first place.

"What's interesting is that people aren't just worried about AI replacing tasks, they're worried about it replacing the learning phase of a career. If junior roles shrink, it raises a bigger question about where the next generation of skilled professionals will come from."

Concerns about jobs that AI will replace are spreading across industries

Other commonly mentioned occupations included engineers and electricians, accounting for around seven percent of opinions analysed. However, many trade workers were not necessarily worried about automation directly replacing their roles. Instead, some feared an oversupply of workers entering trades as people move away from white-collar jobs.

Ishkhanian said this could create unexpected shifts across industries.

"There's an interesting secondary effect emerging in the data. If people believe white-collar jobs are at risk, many may pivot toward trades and technical careers. That could create new competition and bottlenecks in industries that were previously seen as secure."

Teachers and lawyers also appeared in the discussions, suggesting that even professions requiring human interaction could see parts of their work supported or reshaped by AI.

Ishkhanian added that these discussions highlight growing concern about the long-term impact on workforce development.

"From the study, it seems workers are worried about how automation will affect entry-level workers' ability to learn the ropes. Even trade roles, such as electricians, are worried, because the automation of administrative or office roles could mean the labour market desperately seeks in-person roles that have a guaranteed pathway to lifelong employment, leading to a strained labour market."

Why this matters for the future workforce

These conversations reveal a growing perception that AI could reshape the earliest stages of many careers and businesses, from compliance and beyond. If entry-level opportunities change significantly, businesses and educators may need to rethink how skills are developed and how the next generation of professionals gains experience.

At Honcho, we support Australians at every stage of their career journey, including those looking to launch and grow their own ventures. If you are considering starting a business or exploring new opportunities, you can learn more about how Honcho helps Australians register and manage businesses online.