What age group is most concerned about AI?

Those born between 1997 and 2008 (Gen Z) are the most pessimistic about AI's impact, with 78% saying they are at least somewhat concerned according to a Quinnipiac poll.

AI Business & IndustrySemafor Tech10h agoAug 12, 2026, 22:01 JST2 min read

Global youth unemployment rose in 2025 amid AI concerns

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Key takeaway

Global youth unemployment rose in 2025 as economic slowdown and geopolitical tensions reduced hiring, while young people express deepening anxiety about AI's effect on their job prospects.
A Quinnipiac poll shows 78% of those born between 1997 and 2008 are at least somewhat concerned about AI's impact on their lives, and the UN's International Labour Organization has warned of a widespread decline in entry-level positions.

3 Key Points

What happened
Global youth unemployment increased in 2025 as weaker economic growth and geopolitical tensions slowed hiring, according to new data from the UN's International Labour Organization. The organization warned of a widespread decline in entry-level jobs.
Why it matters
Young people (born 1997–2008) are increasingly pessimistic about AI's impact on their futures. A Quinnipiac poll found 78% are at least somewhat concerned about the technology's effect on their lives, raising fears that AI could make job-seeking even harder for Gen Z.
What to watch
Experts worry that AI adoption could further suppress entry-level hiring, the sector most critical for young workers entering the workforce for the first time.

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In Depth

Read the full story

Global youth unemployment increased in 2025, driven by a combination of weaker economic growth and geopolitical tensions that slowed hiring across sectors. The UN's International Labour Organization flagged a particularly concerning trend: a widespread decline in entry-level jobs, the positions that typically serve as the primary gateway for young workers entering the labor market.

The anxiety extends beyond immediate employment numbers. According to a recent Quinnipiac poll, young people born between 1997 and 2008 express heightened pessimism about artificial intelligence and its effect on their lives, with 78% saying they are at least somewhat concerned. This generational concern reflects a broader worry that AI could further contract the pool of accessible jobs for newcomers to the workforce.

Experts have noted a shift in how younger generations are responding to this uncertainty. Rather than passively embracing AI as an inevitable force, an expert writing in The Conversation observed that younger generations are now seeking to reclaim agency over their futures, suggesting a more critical and intentional stance toward how technology reshapes their economic prospects.

Context & Analysis

Youth unemployment has emerged as a confluence of immediate economic headwinds and longer-term technological anxiety. The 2025 rise in global youth joblessness reflects familiar cyclical pressures—weaker economic growth and geopolitical tensions—that have historically dampened entry-level hiring. However, the underlying worry among Gen Z goes deeper: the prospect that AI adoption will permanently reduce the pipeline of beginner roles that have traditionally allowed young workers to gain experience and establish themselves in the labor market. The International Labour Organization's warning of a widespread decline in entry-level positions suggests the concern is not merely speculative but already visible in hiring patterns. This structural anxiety shapes young people's outlook: rather than passively accepting AI as inevitable, the emerging sentiment among this generation is one of reclaiming agency and questioning how the technology will affect their futures.

FAQ

What age group is most concerned about AI?: Those born between 1997 and 2008 (Gen Z) are the most pessimistic about AI's impact, with 78% saying they are at least somewhat concerned according to a Quinnipiac poll.
What specific jobs are at risk?: The UN's International Labour Organization warned of a widespread decline in entry-level jobs, the positions typically available to young workers entering the workforce.

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