More than a third (36%) of UK teenagers are worried that artificial intelligence could take jobs away from them in the future.

As the use of AI rises, this seems like a completely valid worry. I can’t scroll through social media without AI-generated content pop up once every few scrolls - whether it’s a fake video, a fake story that someone’s clearly copy and pasted, or even advertisements for you to make your own AI generated content. I mean, seeing your dog dancing to the latest trend is quite funny, but it gets a little boring after the first few times.

So, if this is what my feed is like – what are other younger, more impressionable people seeing? It can feel like AI is taking over everything, especially for young people who are growing up with it as the norm.

So, is this fear warranted? Are young people most at risk?

It does seem that young people are among the groups most affected by AI taking jobs. An article from The Guardian in 2025 suggests that the number of new entry-level jobs in the UK has dropped by almost a third since the launch of ChatGPT, with white-collar roles seeing the steepest declines. And as of February this year, the number of young people classified as NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) in the UK is approaching one million. Is there a link? It seems hard to ignore.

The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) calls the roles most at risk “routine cognitive work”: jobs like data entry, summarising, and basic analysis.

When you think about it, how do most of us learn the ropes at a new job? We start by doing the repetitive tasks; the summaries, the spreadsheets, the first drafts.

But if AI can now do those tasks instantly and cheaply, companies may simply stop hiring juniors.

And if entry-level work disappears, how does anyone become senior? You can see why there are concerns.

Will AI increase inequality and the gender pay gap?

The Institute for Public Policy Research IIPPR) also warns that women are significantly more exposed to the first wave of automation. Statistically, women are more likely to work in administrative and secretarial roles; precisely the roles AI is best positioned to automate.

If AI rollout isn’t managed carefully, we also risk widening the gender pay gap rather than closing it.

Which jobs are safe from AI?

It seems the ‘blue collar’ jobs (manual, industrial or trade labour) look to be the safest. According to report from Sky News, some of the jobs least at risk from AI include:

Roofers (around 2% risk)
Cleaners (around 3% risk)
Surgical assistants (very low risk)

Why? Because they operate in unpredictable environments.

A robot can assemble a car on a production line; the environment never changes. But repairing storm-damaged slate on a wonky Victorian roof? You’re faced with dexterity, judgment and adaptation.

So, will this mean young people will start exploring different paths? Well, it’s certainly having an impact already. According to the King’s Trust report, one in five young people say they have already changed their career choices because of AI, and over a quarter have avoided applying for certain jobs because they think AI can replace them.

Will AI really take young people’s jobs, or just change them?

I’m sure you’ve all heard the story, but when ATMs were first introduced, bank tellers were supposed to disappear. Instead, because ATMs made branches cheaper to run, banks opened more branches. Teller roles shifted away from counting cash all day, and toward relationship building, problem-solving and customer service.

So, technology didn’t destroy the job, it just changed it.

The IPPR has modelled a “best-case scenario”, which is full augmentation. If companies use AI to support workers rather than replace them, and government gets policy right, the UK could see:

Zero net job losses
A GDP boost of up to £306 billion annually

Although young workers are highly concentrated in roles most likely to be augmented by AI, could it benefit them in the long run? In the Kings Trust report, 44% 16–25-year-olds in the UK also believe AI will have a positive impact on opportunities for them.

It is possible - leaning into augmentation could drive significant productivity gains, strengthening the UK economy overall. For example, boosting productivity through AI in retail roles, where many young people are employed, could add an estimated £3.7 billion to the economy. Which makes me ask the question: could some of this be reinvested to create new, more sustainable career opportunities for young people?

That’s the optimistic path, but I know it requires intentional decisions.

How should schools prepare young people for AI and the future of work?

If AI is set to take over more routine, data-driven tasks, then the skills that will truly set young people apart are the ones machines can’t replicate; communication, confidence, adaptability and resilience.

That’s why PSHE has never been more important. We need to equip young people not just with knowledge, but with the social skills to build relationships, the confidence to navigate interviews and workplaces, and the resilience to handle setbacks in what may be an increasingly competitive job market. Just as importantly, they need to understand how to work with AI, not against it; recognising its benefits, spotting potential risks, and using it responsibly.

Resources like Peerscroller aim to support this in a way that resonates, using short-form videos to explore topics such as workplace readiness, communication and confidence, as well as helping young people make sense of AI and its impact. Because ultimately, we need to meet young people where they’re at. AI isn’t going anywhere; it’s becoming more prevalent by the day, and the real challenge is making sure young people feel ready to navigate that world with confidence.