Evolve or Die? Deep, Lasting Changes Have Impacted the Jobs Market

The labor market — in the United States and throughout the world — is undergoing profound upheaval. Three longstanding pillars that once defined the job market have shifted dramatically. Those pillars are:

1. Knowing what jobs exist;
2. Understanding how to find one; and,
3. Identifying the skills needed to get hired.

This article takes a closer look at the changes and what they mean for employers, workers — and you.

Knowing What Jobs Exist

In 2025, clarity around available jobs has all but vanished. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has upended the pre-AI job market, where roles were relatively stable and predictable. Today, it is uncertain how AI will reshape existing jobs — or whether humans will even be needed for some (or many) of them. This disruption has caused employers to pause hiring as they reassess workforce needs, leading to a sharp reduction in available positions.

Goldman Sachs predicted in 2023 that, from 2023 through 2028, AI could displace 300 million jobs globally. Early losses are already evident in fields such as accounting, HR, procurement, order processing and customer service. Many entry-level roles for recent graduates also have disappeared as AI takes their place.

The truth is that employers and workers cannot yet fully grasp what the new landscape of post-AI jobs will look like.

Understanding How to Find a Job

The second major shift is in how people find work. Traditional methods — searching job boards, applying online and expecting a recruiter to review a resume — are increasingly obsolete. Employers now rely on AI to scan resumes for “exact fit” criteria, while thousands of others are automatically rejected and left untouched in databases. In response, job seekers are using AI tools to craft tailored resumes and apply en masse to hundreds of postings. The result is an AI arms race:

• Employers overwhelmed with applications still claim they lack qualified candidates.
• Applicants insist they are being overlooked.

Online applications have devolved into a cycle of mutual frustration. Recruiters warn that, in this new environment, only the most persistent, adaptable candidates — those who continually refine their resumes and stay laser-focused — will break through.

Identifying the Skills Needed to Get Hired

The third pillar — skills — also has transformed. Prior to AI’s propagation, technical abilities like programming, marketing, communications and HR expertise were in demand. Today, AI is proving capable of performing many of those same tasks. With the advent of “agentic AI,” systems are no longer just reactive tools but autonomous collaborators — executing tasks, learning from outcomes, and even reshaping how organizations hire, train and manage talent.

In HR, AI agents already handle screening, personalized coaching and productivity enhancements. Such technologies are augmenting human capability while redefining what skills remain uniquely valuable in the workforce.

As highlighted by consulting firm Accenture, even global leaders are warning that employees who cannot reskill around AI will be “exited,” underscoring the urgency for workers at every level to rapidly and continually adapt. The very definition of employability is shifting. At institutions such as the University of California at Berkeley, computer science graduates who once fielded multiple offers now struggle to secure even one — serving as proof that technical skills alone are no longer enough.

Choose Wisely

The reality is clear: AI is not a passing trend or a bubble. It is reshaping the labor market at every level, from entry-level roles to executive decision-making. To remain employable in the post-AI era, workers and organizations alike must focus on how to do their jobs in partnership with AI — embracing new skills, new mindsets and new ways of working. Those who adapt are better equipped to thrive. Those who resist risk being left behind.

Editor’s Note: Additional Content

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