Youth Pulse 2026

Impact of AI on entry-level roles over the next three years FIGURE 9 What impact do you think AI will have on entry-level roles over the next 3 years?* 1.0% 7.9%27.5% 38.2%Don't know 13.1% Significantly increase the number of entry-level jobs available 12.3% Somewhat increase the number of entry-level jobs available Have little or no effect either waySignificantly reduce the number of entry-level jobs available Somewhat reduce the number of entry-level jobs available Despite their concerns, young people are leading AI adoption. Nearly 60% report using AI regularly, and another third experimenting occasionally. By contrast, 68% of people aged 50 and older report they have never used AI tools,19 underscoring the generational divide in AI literacy. However, familiarity does not necessarily translate into formal expertise. Many young people have yet to participate in structured AI training,20 revealing a gap between experimentation and certified skills. This skill divide within the AI generation is compounded by the slow pace of change in education systems, where curricula often lag behind technological realities. Experts at advisory firm Gartner note that those who can translate AI familiarly into certified, high-value skills will be best positioned to seize emerging economic opportunities21 – a shift that will increasingly define competitiveness across genders, generations and industries. Bridging this divide will be essential to ensure that early adoption translates into inclusive, long-term opportunity.Early adopters and informal learnersNote: *Respondents were asked to select up to three trends Youth Pulse 2026: Insights from the next generation for a changing world 23