A new report from Handshake, a career platform focused on Gen Z workers, has revealed a troubling trend: the rise of artificial intelligence is reshaping the entry-level job market, eliminating many of the task-based roles that once served as steppingstones for new graduates.
According to Handshake’s data, corporate entry-level postings have fallen 15% over the past year. Meanwhile, applications to those same roles are surging by about 30%, creating an increasingly competitive environment. The mismatch between supply and demand has pushed the unemployment rate for recent college graduates to 6%, well above the national average.
This growing gap is fueling an unexpected outcome: more young people are choosing trades over traditional office careers.
Gen Z Jobs 2025: Why Trades Are Looking More Secure
While artificial intelligence has flooded job listings since 2022, many skilled trades remain largely untouched by automation. Professions such as plumbing, electrical work, welding, HVAC repair, and carpentry continue to require hands-on expertise that AI systems simply can’t replace.
Take the story of Angel Chavez, one of a growing wave of students opting out of the four-year degree route and instead pursuing technical skills.
“Especially with the economy right now, I look forward to being a plumber. I look forward to getting my hands dirty and having a stable income,” Chavez explained.
This sentiment reflects a broader generational shift. For decades, the assumption was that white-collar jobs offered greater security and upward mobility. Today, Gen Z jobs in 2025 may increasingly lie in skilled trades rather than traditional office paths.
Build Your Future in Skilled Trades
Search WhatJobs for plumbing, electrical, HVAC, welding, and carpentry jobs—stable, high-demand careers where AI can’t replace human expertise.
Search Skilled Trade Jobs →AI and the Vanishing Entry-Level Corporate Job
AI excels at repetitive, task-based work—precisely the type of assignments historically given to new hires. Activities like:
- Report generation
- Scheduling
- Document review
- Customer service
are now being handled by software. For employers, this reduces the need to hire large cohorts of recent grads. For job seekers, it means the “first rung of the ladder” is disappearing.
Public Opinion on AI and Gen Z Jobs 2025
A recent poll asked Americans if they were worried AI would take jobs. The results were striking:
- 59% said “Yes, it already has.”
- 24% said “No, but it will.”
- 17% said “Not worried at all.”
This aligns with Handshake’s findings and highlights that the AI disruption of Gen Z jobs in 2025 is already a reality, not just a future possibility.
What It Means for the Future of Work
The contrast between declining corporate opportunities and resilient skilled trades raises key questions about the future of Gen Z jobs in 2025:
- Will more high school graduates bypass college for trade schools?
- Can universities adapt by offering AI-integrated, job-ready programs?
- How should policymakers address the divide between tech-disrupted and tech-resistant fields?
FAQs on Gen Z Jobs 2025
1. Why are entry-level jobs disappearing for new grads?
AI is automating task-based roles like data entry and basic reporting, which used to be assigned to junior hires.
2. Are skilled trades safe from AI?
Yes, for now. Plumbing, electrical work, welding, and HVAC repair require manual, on-site skills that automation can’t easily replicate.
3. Should Gen Z skip college for trade schools?
Not always. College still opens doors in healthcare, advanced tech, and engineering. But trade schools are becoming a more reliable, cost-effective option.
4. What industries will grow for Gen Z jobs in 2025?
Healthcare, cybersecurity, renewable energy, and cloud computing remain strong career bets.
