As AI erases the bottom rungs of the corporate ladder, some gen Z workers skip the entry level to become their own CEOs
When Ashley Terrell graduated from the University of Hawaii in 2024, she planned to find a job in marketing, maybe for a tech company. She had a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a college résumé that included a student marketing job for Red Bull. But after months of applying, her only offer was to work in the power tools section at Home Depot. “It was quite a shock,” she told the Guardian. “I searched for jobs every single day in that Home Depot bathroom.”
Terrell’s generation is entering the workforce in a particularly unlucky moment. Hiring in the United States has slumped to its lowest rate since 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While workers of all ages are feeling the pressure of an uncertain economy, it’s gen Z who is the most pessimistic about their job prospects: entry-level jobs are the most vulnerable to impacts from artificial intelligence, and some younger workers are seeing their careers stall before they have even started. Terrell felt she was not just competing with other people for jobs. “Especially with marketing, a lot of people think it can be replaced with AI,” she said.
Continue reading...Why This Matters
As the US job market continues to struggle, with hiring rates at their lowest since 2020, Generation Z is facing unprecedented challenges in finding employment. The rise of artificial intelligence is exacerbating this issue, making entry-level jobs the most vulnerable. For many Gen Z workers, entrepreneurship is becoming an attractive alternative to traditional employment.
In Week 17 2026, Business accounted for 133 related article(s), with UK Politics setting the broader headline context. Coverage of Business increased by 1 article(s) versus the prior week, signaling growing editorial attention.
Coverage Snapshot
Week 17 2026 included 133 Business article(s). Leading outlets for this topic included CNBC, NY Times, NY Times Business. Across that cluster, sentiment showed a mostly neutral skew (avg score -0.00).
Key Insights
Tone & Sentiment
The article tone is classified as neutral, driven by the language and emphasis in the summary.
Context
The Guardian's coverage highlights the struggles of Gen Z workers in the current job market, with many feeling that AI is replacing their potential careers. Other outlets, such as the World Economic Forum, have also reported on the impact of AI on entry-level work. The media reaction emphasizes the uncertainty and pessimism felt by Gen Z workers, with many considering entrepreneurship as a viable option.
Related Topics
Key Takeaway
In short, this article underscores key movement in Business and explains why it matters now.