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Two factors determine whether AI culls or cultivates early career jobs

The Australian Financial Review

ENRICHED

Details

Date Published
10 Sept 2026
Priority Score
1
Australian
Yes
Created
10 Sept 2026, 08:00 am

Authors (1)

Description

While there are fewer early career roles in HR and law, some occupations are experiencing an AI-induced bump at the junior level.

Summary

This report examines the shifting landscape of Australian entry-level employment as generative AI automates routine cognitive tasks in sectors like law and HR while augmenting creative roles. It highlights how frontier AI capabilities are altering the demand for human cognitive labor and changing the skill sets required for early-career professionals. While the article touches on economic displacement, it focuses primarily on productivity gains and labor market shifts rather than existential or catastrophic safety risks. The findings are relevant to Australian workforce policy and the broader governance of AI's socio-economic impact in the region.

Body

Work & CareersCareersJobsPrint articleEmma McGrath-CohenReporterSep 10, 2026 – 12.01amUnlike many of her peers in creative fields – where anxiety over AI job losses runs high – recent university graduate Eliza Hayman, 24, is unfazed.After studying product design and creative intelligence and innovation at the University of Technology Sydney, Hayman secured a paid design internship at furniture maker King Living, where she frequently uses artificial intelligence to help mock up ideas, create renders and generate 3D vector data sets.Loading...SaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy linkCopiedEmailLinkedInTwitterFacebookCopy linkCopiedShare via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? LoginLicense articleRead MoreJobsAIJob huntingFetching latest articles