AI is fundamentally rewriting the rules of the job market. Artificial intelligence is taking over tasks that for years formed the backbone of junior positions — from reporting to content creation. According to the Gi Group Holding Labor Market Barometer, 41.6% of companies in Poland already use AI tools, and automation increasingly replaces the simple duties once assigned to young employees. As a result, some entry-level roles are disappearing, while expectations for early-career workers are rising. AI is forcing a new model of professional development, experts at Grafton Recruitment warn.
A Workforce at the Turning Point of Technological Change
AI is no longer a promise of the future — it is now a tangible part of the Polish job market. According to the Gi Group Holding Labor Market Barometer, 41.6% of companies report using automation and AI tools, with 12.2% claiming full implementation. This is almost double the figure from two years ago. The most advanced adopters are companies in transport & logistics, manufacturing, and services. Meanwhile:
- 23.5% plan to implement automation
- 21.6% do not consider it at all — largely public institutions and smaller organizations with less digitization potential
The speed of adoption among employers is mirrored in employee vulnerability. According to the 2024 Polish Economic Institute report “AI in the Polish Labour Market”, 3.68 million people in Poland work in occupations at high risk of automation, including 82% with higher education. This shows that technology is not only affecting manual or operational roles — increasingly, specialist positions are also being transformed. At the same time, 1.66 million workers are employed in AI-resistant professions such as education, care, and social services, where interpersonal skills remain crucial.
“Two years ago, only 21% of companies said they had implemented or were implementing automation solutions. Another 8% planned to, and over 7% did not consider it at all. Since then, everything has changed — operational, demographic, and efficiency pressures made automation a necessity, not an option.”
— Tomasz Tarabuła, Regional Director, Gi Group
Opportunities — but Also Risks
These developments profoundly affect how young people start their careers.
In technology, marketing, analytics, and finance, AI has absorbed many junior-level tasks once essential for gaining experience — such as preparing reports, analysing datasets, conducting research, and drafting content. This fundamentally alters the traditional learning curve, which relied heavily on performing repetitive tasks and learning by doing.
Now, early-career workers are expected to already possess skills they once acquired on the job:
- proficiency in AI tools
- analytical thinking
- the ability to work in tech-integrated workflows
“AI has clearly changed the nature of junior roles. Instead of routine work, entry-level employees increasingly participate in processes requiring analytical thinking, data work, and collaboration with technology. Starting a career has become harder and more demanding.”
— Karol Boczkowski, IT Recruitment Manager, Grafton Recruitment
AI Takes Over Simple Tasks — And Junior Jobs Shrink
The shift in junior roles is not just organizational — it is structural.
According to the Labor Market Barometer:
- 48% of companies associate automation with optimization of production and operational processes
- 34% see it as IT system integration to boost efficiency
Automation is therefore reshaping organizational structures.
Business Insider reports that major tech companies in Poland are already reducing simple junior positions, focusing instead on roles involving:
- data processing
- algorithmic understanding
- AI-supported content creation
In 2024, such companies hired 25% fewer recent graduates than in the previous year.
Meanwhile, young workers are not fully prepared for the new reality. The August 2025 PARP report “Labour Market, Education, Competences” shows:
- only 26% of Polish workers have above-basic digital skills
- in the 25–34 age group, the figure rises to 35%
This highlights a widening competency gap, especially in sectors where AI is transforming workflows fastest.
Still, not all companies plan job cuts:
- 46% prefer to upskill current employees rather than reduce staff
- 13% expect job reductions due to AI
“Growing expectations mean young employees must combine technology and business understanding earlier than before. Onboarding can no longer be teaching the basics — it must be about developing potential in tech-integrated environments.”
— Agata Jemioła, Manager, Grafton Recruitment
Between Adaptation and Anxiety: How Young Workers Feel
AI adoption affects not only operations — but also emotions.
38% of early-career workers fear technology will threaten their job security
(Pracuj.pl, “Generation Z” report, 2024).
In the 2025 Talent Days & Microsoft report, 68% say AI causes them anxiety:
- 35% fear job loss due to automation
- 34% worry about errors and manipulation
- 31% fear societal dependence on digital systems
Yet paradoxically, young people are also the most comfortable with new technologies.
Among respondents aged 18–24:
- 35% believe they understand AI fully
- 38% say they know the basics but want to learn more
The 55+ group shows the opposite: only 10% feel confident, while nearly 17% do not understand how AI works at all.
Talent Days & Microsoft also reveal:
- 97% of people aged 18–35 use AI tools
- they use AI for:
- content creation — 64%
- data analysis — 40%
- communication — 33%
- over 40% use AI daily
- but only 12% feel fully prepared to use it at work
- 60% expect employers to provide AI tools
- 44% expect training
- 39% want time for learning during work hours
“Young people use AI willingly, but rarely maximize its professional potential. Technology evolves faster than education can keep up. Employers who combine training, mentoring, and practical projects will help young employees turn AI familiarity into real job skills.”
— Karol Boczkowski, Grafton Recruitment
IT Sector: AI as a Professional Ally
In the IT industry — the fastest adopter of technological innovation — concerns are far lower.
The Grafton Recruitment report “IT Salaries and Trends” shows:
- 78% of IT specialists view AI as a valuable everyday work tool
- 7% fear job loss
- 15% see no significant impact on their tasks
The employees most positive about AI are those with 6–15 years of experience, who better understand its practical benefits. Surprisingly, younger specialists form the smallest group here — indicating that they enter the market at a time when AI is already standard, yet still requires experience to use effectively.
Can AI Be an Ally for Young Workers?
Although automation is reshaping entry-level work, it does not necessarily reduce opportunities.
The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs 2025 report forecasts:
- 78 million new jobs will be created globally by 2030, especially in:
- data analysis
- AI development
- information management
- cybersecurity
Moreover, 39% of workplace skills will change within just five years.
This gives young workers a chance to build future-proof competencies — such as:
- data analysis
- working with technology
- critical thinking
- adaptability in human–AI collaborative environments
Experts emphasize that the biggest challenge is not job reduction, but how companies prepare young employees for the evolving workplace.
Organizations that can blend:
- technology
- upskilling
- mentoring
- and practical experience
will secure a strategic advantage in developing tomorrow’s workforce.
Source: managerplus.pl
