10/08/2026
Is AI taking jobs or creating them? The honest answer right now: the data can't agree.
A new Built In article looks at why the research on AI and the job market is so contradictory, and it's worth a read for anyone navigating a career move right now.
On one side, a Stanford study found that employment for early-career workers in AI-exposed occupations has fallen about 16% since ChatGPT launched. Entry-level hiring at major tech companies is down roughly 65%.
On the other side, a June 2026 study from Ramp and Revelio Labs found that companies investing heavily in AI actually grew their teams by about 10% within two years, and their entry-level hiring rose 12%.
Why the disconnect? The studies use different data sets, different ways of measuring "AI exposure," and companies are adopting AI at very different speeds. Some experts also believe executives are blaming AI for layoffs that are really driven by overhiring or economic pressure.
Here's what I'm telling my coaching clients and students:
Don't panic over headlines. Most of them are built on one slice of the data.
The companies seeing growth are the ones using AI deeply, not just experimenting. Those companies want people who can work alongside it.
AI fluency is quickly becoming a baseline skill. Show it on your resume, in your LinkedIn profile, and in your interviews with concrete examples.
If you're early in your career, your network and your ability to show real results matter more than ever.
The job market isn't disappearing. It's shifting. The people who adapt will have the advantage.
What are you seeing in your industry? Is AI shrinking teams or helping them grow?
📖 Read the full article:
A look at the challenges of measuring AI's effect on the labor market. Varying research methodologies leave the future of entry-level hiring unclear.