Home / Career & Work / AI Anxiety Hits Hiring:...

AI Anxiety Hits Hiring: Companies Freeze Roles That Bots Could Fill

Chicago, Illinois, USA

May 12, 2025 0 Negative General

A wave of “automation attrition” is hitting the job market as companies hold off on filling certain roles that artificial intelligence could handle. Major tech and finance firms have quietly instituted policies requiring managers to prove a position “cannot be automated” before hiring. As a result, junior or entry-level analyst, administrative, and coding jobs are seeing fewer postings. The phenomenon is evident in falling job listings for some mid-skilled roles—meanwhile, openings for AI-centric positions like “prompt engineering” or machine learning specialists are surging. For new graduates, it’s a jolt: some entry pathways are drying up, replaced by chatbots or generative AI solutions. Labor economists predict short-term displacement but say it could eventually spur new job categories if companies expand with AI-driven productivity. For now, anxiety grows among workers who fear automation might freeze them out of the labor market.

What this means for you:

•	If you’re aiming for an entry-level role, highlight human-centric skills—like creativity, leadership, communication—beyond routine tasks.
•	Seek training in AI collaboration: show you can supervise or refine AI outputs, not be replaced by them.
•	Employers often shift resources—while they freeze certain positions, they may open new ones requiring advanced data or AI know-how.
•	In the meantime, monitor job boards carefully: some positions quietly vanish if a manager thinks a bot can do 80% of the work.

Key Entities

• Shopify, Duolingo: Publicly stated new roles must pass an “automation test” before approval.
• AI Chatbots & Algorithms: Replacing tasks such as creating basic reports, coding templates, or writing social media copy.
• Entry-Level Workforce: Young grads or pivoting professionals struggling to find positions historically abundant in IT, marketing, or support.
• HR Departments: Adjusting job descriptions, focusing on synergy with AI rather than purely manual tasks.

Want to dive deeper?

We've prepared an in-depth analysis of this story with additional context and background.

Featuring Our Experts' Perspectives in an easy-to-read format.

Read Deep Dive

Future Snapshot

See how this story could impact your life in the coming months

Exclusive Member Feature

Create a free account to access personalized Future Snapshots

Create Account

Future Snapshots show you personalized visions of how insights from this story could positively impact your life in the next 6-12 months.

Tailored to your life indicators
Clear next steps and action items
Save snapshots to your profile

Related Roadmaps

Explore step-by-step guides related to this story, designed to help you apply this knowledge in your life.

AI Anxiety Hits Hiring: Companies Freeze Roles That Bots Could Fill

Key Entities

Want to dive deeper?

Future Snapshot

Exclusive Member Feature

Related Roadmaps

Loading roadmaps...

Your Opinion

Comments (0)

Related Stories

Historic First: Philadelphia Whole Foods Workers Union Certified Despite Amazon’s Fight

Chiquita Fires 5,000 Striking Workers in Panama, Sparking Labor Outcry

Judge Blocks Mass Layoffs at Education Dept., Calls Plan an “Existential Threat” to Agency