- Date published:
- July 2026
- Organisation:
- Centre for Economic Performance
- Authors:
- Peter John Lambert, Yannick Schindler
- Themes:
- AI, Young people
Is generative AI replacing junior workers? A growing literature answers yes, citing large declines in early career hiring concentrated in Gen AI-exposed occupations. This report argues that this verdict is premature because Gen AI exposure is strongly correlated with another post pandemic shock, working from home. Using two data sources spanning 243 million new hires and 407 million online job postings, collected across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia during 2017-2025, this research estimates difference-in-difference designs at the occupation, region, and firm level.