AI chills UK job hiring, especially among tech and finance roles
Entry-level and graduate roles are disappearing first as companies replace junior hires with AI systems like ChatGPT
Recent data reveals a sharp drop in UK job openings for roles at risk of automation, with postings in tech and financial sectors falling by approximately 38%, compared to less exposed fields.
The shift underscores how AI influences workforce planning, as employers reduce positions most vulnerable to machine replacement.
Graduate job seekers are bearing the brunt of this trend. Since the debut of tools like ChatGPT, entry-level roles have been withdrawn more swiftly, as firms opt to apply AI solutions over traditional hiring. However, this marks a significant change in early career pathways.
Although macroeconomic factors, such as rising wages and interest rate pressures, are also at play, the rapid pace of AI integration into hiring, particularly via proactive recruitment freezes, signals a fundamental transformation.
As AI tools become integral, firms across the UK are rethinking how, when, and who they recruit.
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