AI BOOM COINCIDES WITH WEAKER PAY FOR GRADS

Graduates with majors most vulnerable to AI disruption are experiencing both lower starting salaries and reduced job prospects, according to recent research. This dual impact—weakened employment and pay—signals potential consequences that could extend throughout workers' careers. The timing is significant. As AI adoption accelerates across industries, recent graduates face a tightening job market in fields previously considered stable career paths. Early-career earnings typically set a foundation for lifetime income, making this decline particularly consequential. The study underscores growing concerns about AI's labor market effects. While automation has historically displaced certain job categories, the breadth and speed of AI's advancement create unique challenges for recent entrants to the workforce. Educators and policymakers are watching these trends closely. The data suggests workers in exposed fields may need to adapt skill sets or pursue alternative career paths as AI reshapes employment landscapes.